CooperVision Taps McLean to Lead Global Commercial Strategies

 
 Jeff McLean
FAIRPORT, N.Y.--CooperVision has named Jeffrey A. McLean executive vice president of commercial strategies. McLean previously served as president of CooperVision’s Americas region.

In his new role, McLean will be responsible for managing CooperVision’s global commercial strategies, including the seamless integration of marketing, product development, manufacturing, and sales across the organization, according to an announcement from the company.

“In order to achieve our long-range goals in a competitive and changing world market, CooperVision must have a deep understanding of our customers’ needs, from clinical to commercial requirements,” said John Weber, president, CooperVision. “Jeff’s significant marketing, sales, and strategic development experience within the contact lens industry represents an opportunity for us to capitalize on a proven executive resource who can maintain a focused view on these changing requirements. Jeff will work with me to ensure that we continue exceeding our customers’ needs.”

Under his leadership as president of the Americas, McLean helped CooperVision achieve the number two market position in the Americas region and successfully manage the integration following CooperVision’s acquisition of Ocular Sciences. Before he joined CooperVision, McLean held significant business development and brand management roles within Bausch and Lomb. He has also received numerous sales and marketing awards throughout his career.

CooperVision has not yet named a successor to lead the company’s Americas region. McLean will continue his current responsibilities until a replacement is identified.

“We are confident that having Jeff’s strategic marketing and commercial emphasis at the executive level within CooperVision will be a building block for our worldwide success,” added Weber. “His broad experience will be beneficial in our pursuit of operational excellence.”

Nouveau Hires Jim Slattery to Manage Umbro Brand

CARROLLTON, Texas--Nouveau Eyewear, based here, has appointed Jim Slattery as vice president of Umbro Eyewear. Formerly a vice president of marketing and sales for Liberty Optical, Slattery is an industry veteran who brings over 30 years of management experience to the position.

“The Umbro brand is poised for dramatic expansion, and we’re counting on Jim to help us explore every opportunity for worldwide distribution,” said Marj McGraw, co-president of Nouveau Eyewear. Slattery’s role at Nouveau will include the development of sales, marketing and product strategies for the domestic and international launch of Umbro Eyewear. He will guide both the development of new accounts and the servicing of existing customers.

Umbro Eyewear features designs inspired by the Umbro soccer brand name. The line is scheduled to launch in January, 2009.

H. Dunbar Hoskins, Jr., MD to Receive 2009 Catalyst Award from Glaucoma Research Foundation

SAN FRANCISCO--H. Dunbar Hoskins Jr., MD, will be the recipient of the 2009 Catalyst Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Glaucoma Research Foundation (GRF) acknowledging exemplary leadership in sustaining innovative research and education. The award will be presented as the centerpiece of GRF’s 31st Anniversary benefit celebration to be held on Jan. 28, 2009, at the Westin St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco.

“Dr. Hoskins has earned The Catalyst Award several times over," said GRF president and CEO Thomas M. Brunner.

“While in private practice, there was his visionary leadership as co-founder of GRF and the thoughtful guidance he provided during those all-important formative early years, along with co-founders Robert Shaffer, MD (1912-2007), and John Hetherington, MD. Certainly he is the personification of ‘catalyst’. And then, since Jan. 1, 1993, there has also been his widely praised leadership as executive vice president of the American Academy of Ophthalmology."

An internationally recognized glaucoma specialist, having authored or co-authored more than 70 publications and presented more than 300 invited lectures, Dr. Hoskins is a Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of California School of Medicine, San Francisco.

The theme of the 31st Anniversary benefit - building on the traditional event title “Speeding the Cure. Spreading the Word--Will Be ‘Honoring the Physicians’," according to Brunner.

Sponsorships and table reservations for the benefit are available by contacting Craig Palmer, (415) 986-3162, [email protected].

Hydrogel Vision Names Deb Bulken Director of Sales for Northeast

SARASOTA, Fla.--Contact lens manufacturer Hydrogel Vision recently named Deb Bulken its director of sales for the Northeastern U.S.

 
Deb Bulken
Bulken has 21 years’ experience in the CL industry with CIBA Vision; most recently, she managed seven regions and 54 sales representatives as CIBA’s north area sales director.

In her new position, Bulken is teaming up with Jim Massa, Edward Lohmann and Peggy Schuster in similar roles partnering with distributors and developing key practitioner account business, according to Hydrogel Vision. Bulken now has responsibility for managing the Northeastern U.S., Massa is responsible for the Central U.S. and Lohmann retains responsibility for the Western U.S., while Schuster takes over the Southeastern U.S., a company announcement said. Christian. 
 




Roth Eyewear Appoints New General Manager

TOKYO--The Charmant Group has appointed Nobu Ishizuka as general manager of its high-end luxury house brand, Christian Roth. His responsibilities will include business planning, global sales, marketing and production for the brand. Ishizuka will work directly with the designers Christian Roth and Eric Domege.

 
Nobu Ishizuka
“The appointment of Nobu as general manager is further commitment from the Charmant Group to the brand. It will be a pleasure to work with Nobu to strengthen the worldwide distribution of Christian Roth Eyewear. His experience in the fashion world lends itself perfectly to the vision that we have for the eyewear collection” said Christian Roth.

“There is a great opportunity for us to further expand our distribution of the Christian Roth brand in the key markets of the U.S., Europe and Asia. In addition, we will concentrate on new markets that demand luxury and the highest quality” stated Ishizuka.




Joan Hollywood-Alten Joins Augen Optics as Marketing Manager


PETALUMA, Calif.-- Joan Hollywood-Alten, a 15-year veteran of the optical industry, has joined Augen Optics as marketing manager. Hollywood-Alten will be responsible for marketing Augen products to trade and consumer markets in the U.S., Canada, South America and Europe.

 
Joan Hollywood-Alten
Working both independently and for national and global companies, her 25-year marketing career has spanned a wide range of industries and all aspects of marketing management and communications. She has held positions as communications director, director of global brand management, marketing director and strategic marketing manager for leading organizations.

In the optical trade, Hollywood-Alten worked with SOLA International for over 10 years, specializing in launching new products and businesses. As an independent contractor, she has provided marketing services to a range of businesses within the optical industry including Jobson Publishing, Chemat, PRVAIL, Exercise Your Eyes and Matsco.

In her marketing role at Augen Optics, Hollywood-Alten will be developing strategic marketing programs and materials to introduce the Augen line of premium High Definition optical products to retail and wholesale customers.

Jeffrey Rubin Joins Emerging Vision’s Board of Directors

GARDEN CITY, N.Y.--Emerging Vision (OTC BB: ISEE.OB) appointed Jeffrey Rubin, a former Optical Dynamics executive, to its board as an independent, non-employee director.

Rubin is currently a managing member of Realstar Realty, and owner and president of Autoskill and the JR Group. Previously, Rubin served as president and a director of Newtek Business Services. Prior to 1998, he was an executive and board member of Optical Dynamics.

Rubin replaces Robert Cohen, OD, chief executive officer of the Cohen’s Fashion Optical chain, who resigned from Emerging Vision’s board on March 5.