Allen Nightingale has been appointed to the role of President of Centennial Optical Limited, the independent, family-owned distributor of ophthalmic frames and lenses, sunglasses, contact lenses and lens coatings. Nightingale takes on the responsibilities in the wake of the sudden passing earlier this week of Centennial’s President Steve de Pinto.

Nightingale is a 39-year veteran of the optical industry who joined Centennial as a sales representative in 1979, upon graduation from Toronto’s York University. Over the years, his responsibilities have spanned marketing, product, licensing, key accounts and sales strategy. His previous positions at the company included frames sales manager, director of frame sales and, most recently vice president.

Noted Nightingale, “In the last twelve years as vice president at Centennial, I had the privilege and joy, with our desks literally beside each other, of working side-by-side with Steve de Pinto.” He added, “Steve and I always anticipated a transition one day; unhappily, that day has come under the saddest conditions. We have a plan in place to continue the great legacy that Roger de Pinto, our founder had started in 1967 and that Steve has left us in 2018.”

Stated Roger de Pinto, Chairman of Centennial, “We have every confidence that Allen will continue building and growing Centennial with a continued focus on our people, our vendor partners and, of course, our loyal customers.”

Source: Centennial Optical