PEOPLE

ABB Optical Group announced changes within its specialty vision product division. Pam Geimer, longtime consultant and partner to ABB Specialty Vision Products, announced her retirement. In addition, the company named Angela Kasperek as a consultation advocate and promoted Dede Reyes to manager of consultation and education, specialty vision products.

Avellino Lab USA Inc. announced Jon Robson as the company’s new CEO and member of its board of directors. Robson replaces former CEO Jim Mazzo, as Mazzo has transitioned to an advisory role for the company.

◄ Lynn Nichols has joined Coburn Technologies as digital marketing and trade show specialist.

CooperCompanies announced two senior leadership changes. Dan McBride, executive vice president, chief operating officer, will take on additional responsibilities, assuming global leadership for human resources and legal, in addition to a more active role in corporate strategy. In conjunction with this move, Jerry Warner, executive vice president of Americas and global commercial functions of CooperVision, will be promoted to president of CooperVision.

Physician Recommended Nutriceuticals appointed Alice Epitropoulos, M.D., FACS, as chief medical officer.

Prevent Blindness announced that Jim McGrann, chairman and CEO of Healthy Eyes Advantage + PECAA, has been named chair-elect of the Prevent Blindness board of directors. In addition, the following members have been elected to the organization’s board of directors: R.V. Paul Chan, M.D., chair, department of ophthalmology and visual sciences at the Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary, University of Illinois College of Medicine, and Adéola Oduwole, MSc, VP and chief of equity, diversity, and inclusion at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago.

◄ Janet Unger has been appointed as vice president of brand management for Safilo North America. Unger joins the company with more than 30 years of experience, including roles with the Swatch Group and VSP/Marchon Eyewear.

BUSINESS UPDATES

New Look Vision Group has announced a definitive agreement to acquire Luxury Optical Holdings.

Safilo Group has opened its Polish subsidiary and dedicated showroom for customers in Warsaw.

VSP Vision Care acquired iCare Health Solutions from Pine Tree Equity Partners.

AWARDS

The American Academy of Optometry awarded the 2021 Garland W. Clay Award to a team of researchers studying the effectiveness of CooperVision MiSight 1 day contact lenses in slowing the progression of myopia in children: Paul Chamberlain, BSc (Hons.); Sofia C. Peixoto-De-Matos, MSc; Nicola S. Logan, Ph.D.; Cheryl Ngo, MBBS, MMed; Deborah Jones, BSc, FAAO; and Graeme Young, Ph.D., FAAO.

The American Academy of Optometry Foundation announced the recipients of the 2021 Vincent Salierno Scholarships: Kenneth Dang, New England College of Optometry; Poonam Pannu, Pacific University School of Optometry; Ryan Sandberg, Southern California College of Optometry at Marshall B. Ketchum University; Sarah Supak, University of Houston College of Optometry; and Der Vang, Midwestern University Arizona College of Optometry.

◄ Abby Markward, head of business development for PentaVision (parent company of EB magazine), was honored as the 2021 Visionary Leader Award winner by Ophthalmic World Leaders (OWL) at OWL’s signature event and awards ceremony.

Kristi Cappelletti-Matthews of VSP Global was named one of the world’s top chief human resources officers of 2021 by N2Growth, in partnership with Stanford Graduate School of Business.

MISCELLANEOUS

CooperVision has launched the Student Myopia Leadership Society, including representatives from all 23 U.S. and Canadian schools and colleges of optometry.