MONTREAL—Martial Gagne recently took over as president of New Look Eyewear, the operating subsidiary of Benvest New Look Income Fund that operates about 50 optical stores in Quebec and Ontario.

Gagne, formerly New Look’s senior vice president and chief operating officer, has been with the company since 2001; in his new role he will be responsible for the chain’s day-to-day operations and principal activities, an announcement said.

Gagne succeeds Emmett Pearson as New Look’s president; Pearson is now chairman, and will continue to represent New Look within Canada’s eyecare industry while retaining his responsibilities as a trustee of the Fund and a director of New Look.

Gagne is also the current president of the Fondation des Maladies de l’Oeil, a charity associated with the eyewear industry in Quebec fighting against eye diseases.