EssilorLuxottica announced that Rick Gadd has been named President of Wholesale Canada and President of Instruments for EssilorLuxottica North America. Rick, who has served as President of Essilor North America for the past two years, will take on the new role as the Company brings its lens and frames teams closer together in Canada. He will report directly to Fabrizio Uguzzoni, President of Wholesale North America for EssilorLuxottica.

Rick will bring his experience and leadership to the position, which includes responsibility for both the frame and lens wholesale business across Canada. In his dual role leading the Company’s Instruments business for N.A., Rick will help unlock the potential for the division’s leading technology, equipment and services designed to meet the changing business needs of the optical industry and help doctors and staff continue to build trusting relationships with their patients.

Christophe Perreault, who has served as President of Essilor Canada since 2017, has made the decision to return to his native France with his family. Christophe has been instrumental to the company’s Canada business in recent years, leading his team in a highly dynamic and changing environment.

“Canada continues to be a vital part of EssilorLuxottica’s North America business and will only grow in importance as we bring our lens and frame businesses together,” said Uguzzoni. “Rick is uniquely suited to deliver the promise of EssilorLuxottica to customers across Canada in the coming years. He is an exceptional leader and deeply committed to our mission, not to mention a Canadian who will fit right in with the incredible team there. I would also like to thank Christophe on behalf of the company for all his contributions – he leaves the business in great shape and in great hands.”

In his new role, Rick will split his time between Dallas and Montreal.

Click HERE for the full press release.

The Vision Council and RX, co-organizers of Vision Expo, announce that Vision Expo+, a complimentary digital extension of the Vision Expo experience, will be offered from Friday, April 1 to Friday, April 8, 2022.  Vision Expo+ will be delivered through ShopVISION, Vision Expo’s global sourcing platform.

VisionExpo+ extends the Vision Expo experience in a virtual format to accommodate members of the vision care community from around the globe who are unable to physically attend Vision Expo East 2022.  Vision Expo+ will offer a number of virtual experiences, including online showrooms from Vision Expo East’s more than 360 exhibitors and recorded content from events taking place at The Bridge, the main stage destination for collaborative learning, including EYE2EYE Series discussions.

“This digital experience extends the product discovery and sourcing benefits that make Vision Expo the ultimate event in eyewear and eyecare,” said Matthias Clock, Marketing Director, Vision Expo and ShopVISION.  “Since ShopVISION’s launch with Vision Expo+ in 2021, we’ve made a number of significant improvements to our marketplace platform, including a new Request for Quote (RFQ) feature, expanded content offerings, and over 6,000 new SKUs from suppliers. We welcome all industry professionals to come and source products and establish new vendor relationships on our platform.” 

To gain access to Vision Expo+ offerings, register for ShopVISION here by clicking the “Sign in/Join” button and then “Register Now.” ShopVISION and Vision Expo+ are being offered on a complimentary basis to all eyecare providers, buyers and all Vision Expo East 2022 exhibitors.

Vision Expo+ is delivered through ShopVISION, the new global digital sourcing solution built for optical and optometric providers. ShopVISION currently features more than 500 brands and more than 4,800 products across diverse categories, including frames, lens processing, medical and diagnostic, and business and practice management.

For more information on Vision Expo, visit  visionexpo.com and follow Vision Expo’s social media channels, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.   

Click HERE for the full press release.

To fuel continued growth, Neurolens continues to invest heavily into developing new technologies and clinical research initiatives. A key driver of these initiatives is partnerships with leading schools of optometry such as the École d’optométrie de l’Université de Montréal. The two organizations will partner on several collaborative projects intended to define future product line enhancements and conceptualize product innovations, particularly in myopia control.

“We are thrilled and honored to partner with an institution with a well-known reputation for innovation like the École d’optométrie de l’Université de Montréal,” said Pierre Bertrand, CEO of Neurolens. “We are announcing a major donation of a 2nd generation Neurolens measuring device (NMD2) to the Clinique Universitaire de la Vision. This exciting partnership will help us define our innovation roadmap for years to come, and allow us to drive even more life-changing patient outcomes.”

“According to Dr. Langis Michaud, Optometrist and Director of the School of Optometry, “Innovation is in the DNA of our School. Considering the rapid changes we are subjected to, it is important to use the latest technology to help diagnose and treat visual anomalies. Neurolens’ major donation opens doors to innovative technologies that will benefit our patients. In addition, by developing a research partnership, we will be able to pool our strengths and develop products that will meet the visual needs of this technological age where children’s eyes are under great strain. We are excited to partner with Neurolens to fuel that will allow the industry to continue to adapt to the changing needs of patients worldwide.”

Click HERE for the full press release.

Forced to cancel the 2020 edition the day before its opening, Copenhagen Specs re-opened its doors on March 5 to rekindle the independent eyewear business in Northern Europe.

Its usual setting “Lokomotivværkstedet” – the centennial train repair building – hosted 53 exhibitors showcasing more than 85 innovative brands. 608 unique visitors from 16 different countries (Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Faroe Island, Iceland, Greenland, Finland, Poland, France, Germany, Italy, UK, Belgium, The Netherlands, Spain, and Switzerland), enjoyed the return of real interactions and have fully achieved their purchases goals, confirming Copenhagen Specs as the Scandinavian business hub.

CEO/Founder of Copenhagen Specs, Morten Gammelmark says: “It was such a joy finally being able to welcome the independent eyewear business to a Copenhagen Specs again after the period with cancelled tradeshows due to covid. But we could not succeed without the great support from the exhibitors and visitors, who stepped up and supported us. We are very grateful for that!”

Announced two years ago, the new Specs event is now on track. Independent eyewear will blossom in May in Spain. Barcelona Specs, May 7-8, 2022, will welcome eyewear lovers in a very cozy atmosphere at Fira Barcelona Montjuic in Barcelona city center.

Click HERE for the press release.