Prevent Blindness America Restructures Organization Roles, Names New Exec Team

Jacinda D. Adams

CHICAGO—Prevent Blindness America (PBA), the nation’s oldest eye health and safety organization, has announced the formation
of a new internal leadership team, effective immediately, through the creation of a new organizational structure and the addition of three
new executive team members.

Joining the 101-year-old organization are Jacinda D. Adams, who will serve as vice president of marketing and development,
and Jerome D. Desserich, CPA, who has been named vice president of finance and administration/chief financial officer,
and will join the organization this month.

Andrea M. Densham, formerly the organization’s senior director of public health and government affairs, has been promoted to vice president of that department. Jeff P. Todd, most recently vice president of PBA, has been promoted to chief operating officer.

Jerome D. Desserich

In her new role, Densham will oversee a team dedicated to advocating at both the state and national levels for the need for funding for vision care services. Densham has more than a decade’s worth of experience in health policy and advocacy, non-profit management, strategic planning, and social science research as well as managing grassroots campaigns and facilitating the building of strategic alliances. Prior to joining the organization in fall 2008, Densham was principal of Densham Consulting in Chicago as well as senior public health director directing HIV services for the city of Chicago. She is also adjunct faculty at Roosevelt University in Chicago.

Todd will ensure integration of efforts across the organization’s various departments, oversee internal operations, and work to expand external partnerships and communication within the vision and eye health community. Rounding out the executive team, Kathy Nelson continues to serve in her role as vice president of field operations, overseeing the growing affiliate, division and regional system of the organization.

Adams comes to PBA from United Way of Metropolitan Chicago where she served as director of marketing. She was also director of market segmentation for Greater Twin Cities United Way in Minneapolis and brings experience in strategic marketing, community relations, public relations and donor relationship building. At PBA, she will oversee all fund development programs including corporate and organizational relations as well as all marketing and communications initiatives, an announcement said.

Desserich, a finance and administration professional with 19 years of experience, will oversee all financial and administrative matters of PBA. Most recently, he was the controller of Local Launch, an internet marketing division of R.H. Donnelley. Prior to that, he was employed for 10 years with various financial responsibilities in the Chicago office of Marsh USA, the world’s largest insurance broker.

“This is an exciting time for us as we welcome both Jacinda Adams and Jerome Desserich into our Prevent Blindness America family. We look forward to their many insightful contributions,” said Hugh R. Parry, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness America.

ORBIS International Appoints New President

NEW YORK— The board of directors of ORBIS International appointed Edward (Ned) Cloonan as president of the New York-based non-profit organization dedicated to preventing blindness worldwide.

“We are very fortunate to have Ned join ORBIS as president at this important time in the organization’s history. ORBIS has reached a critical juncture and we are refining our programmatic scope—how we deliver our work and maximize operational efficiency. His 30 years of management and international experience is exactly what is needed to help position ORBIS to grow,” said A. L. Ueltschi, chairman of ORBIS International.

Prior to becoming president of ORBIS, Cloonan held the position of vice president of Corporate and International Affairs for American International Group (AIG). He was responsible for developing and executing business strategies, as well as strategic corporate giving. He helped build AIG’s global businesses, including playing a leading role in successful market access strategies.

Godfrin to Lead Indo’s Int’l Lenses and Eyewear Unit

Jean Christophe Godfrin

BARCELONA, Spain—Indo has appointed Jean Christophe Godfrin to the newly created position of international director of its lenses
and eyewear business unit, which accounts for 30 percent of the Spanish multinational’s turnover. He will be in charge of lens and eyewear exports and Indo’s subsidiaries in France, Italy, Portugal, Chile and Morocco.

Brussels-born Godfrin, 42, joined Indo in 2000, managing the company’s subsidiaries in Morocco and Chile. Most recently, he served
as European and Africa sales director. Prior to joining Indo, Godfrin was the general manager of the Spanish subsidiary of an international textile group.

“The creation of this post, which is directly under the chairman, reflects Indo’s decision to continue expanding into international markets,” said
Juan Casaponsa, Indo’s executive chairman. “The unification of all teams under the same director will boost our international presence.”

Casaponsa noted that there are several strategic products that can help Indo achieve this goal. “We will strengthen our new lines of EyeMade and LifeMade lenses, and our attractive portfolio of eyewear brands, such as Carolina Herrera, Custo Barcelona and Paco Rabanne,” he said. ■