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Marcolin Group and Iconix Brand Group announced the renewal of an exclusive license agreement for the design, production, and distribution of Rampage branded eyeglasses. The license agreement is extended until Dec. 31, 2020.
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Area98 has announced the following appointments: Monica Dal Cin as managing director and Luciana Olivotto as head of sales. The appointments are part of a reorganization process through which Area98 aims to optimize its commercial strategy and support its international growth.
Ron Dare Jr. has been named the eastern region sales manager at Eschenbach Optik of America, Inc. Dare has worked for Eschenbach for 12 years, first as a territory manager and then as the company’s first senior territory manager covering the mid-Atlantic states.
The Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association, International, has appointed Gary Esterow executive director. Esterow will assume the position on a part-time basis, while still operating Esterow Communications, LLC, a consulting agency he established in 2016 following a 24-year career at Johnson & Johnson.
Quest Vision Specialty Care Lab, Inc., announced the appointment of Greg Boruta as vice president of operations. Boruta has been with Quest since its inception 14 years ago. Ilona Ostrowski is the company’s new chief financial officer. Ostrowski joined Quest in 2014.
Randolph Engineering, Inc., hired Joyce Pokoy-Kurtulus as the new executive VP of product development and management. Previously, she was executive VP of design and development at B. Robinson Optical, Inc.
Safilo has appointed Andrea Busato as commercial head of Latin America. Busato joined Safilo in 2012, and most recently was head of global sales operations.
WestGroupe has promoted Michael DeBono to chief operating officer. DeBono joined WestGroupe in 2005, and most recently served as the company’s executive vice president of global sales.
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Envision has partnered with sister agency LC Industries to launch the William L. Hudson BVI Workforce Innovation Center, aimed at training people who are blind or visually impaired and placing them into skilled positions. Mike May has been appointed executive director.
Essilor has partnered with the Australian government to launch its Eye Mitra program in Bangladesh. The program creates affordable vision care for nearly 100,000 low-income residents of rural Bangladesh, and trains young people to become primary visioncare providers.
Primary Eyecare Network, a division of ABB Optical Group, will host its second annual solutions summit for PEN members on April 14-15 at the San Francisco Marriott Union Square.
Professional Eye Care Associates of America (PECAA) has deepened its relationship with strategic vendor partner AmeriBen to offer an expanded human resource support service to members of the organization. For information: pecaa.com/hr-support-center .
Safilo opened a new showroom in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The showroom, one of more than 20 showrooms worldwide, demonstrates Safilo’s commitment to the Latin American market.
Safilo has entered a distribution partnership for Taiwan with LUXASIA, a leading luxury operator in Asia with experience in distribution and brand-building capabilities.
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Five optometry students from the U.S. and Canada presented scientific posters at the 2018 Global Specialty Lens Symposium as winners of the Optometry Student Challenge, a program designed by ABB Optical Group, in partnership with Paragon Vision Sciences, to foster the study of contact lenses: Theodore Chow, Indiana University School of Optometry; Gabriella Courey, University of Montreal School of Optometry; Yuno Iwabuchi, Pacific University; Kiri Rutledge, Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry; and Stephanie Sonnenburg, Illinois College of Optometry.
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CORRECTION: The Vision 101 column in Eyecare Business’ February issue incorrectly referred to online refractions as online eye exams. Online refractions, or vision tests, are quite different from comprehensive eye exams.
The Centene Charitable Foundation announced its support of Optometry Cares—The AOA Foundation’s InfantSEE program with a $150,000 grant, which will be used to expand awareness of the program among new parents through print advertising, brochures, signage, and online efforts.
De Rigo REM announced that musician and actor Nick Jonas has been named the new face of the John Varvatos Spring/Summer 2018 campaign.
DITA has announced its official partnership with the Formula One Aston Martin Red Bull Racing team.
Kenmark Eyewear honored its top territory managers at a sales meeting in Captiva Island, FL, in December.
Lyric Optical, the parent company of Super Optical International and creator of FastGrind, celebrates its 95th anniversary this year.
NIDEK, a manufacturer and distributer of ophthalmic equipment, and longtime partner of Santinelli International, announced the completed reconstruction of the Shree Kalika Secondary School in Nepal. It was originally built with the support of NIDEK in 2001, and the company began supporting the reconstruction of the school after a 2015 earthquake.
Rudy Project announced its role as the official eyewear partner for all three Lotto-Soudal pro cycling teams for 2018.
Carrera, the eyewear brand owned by Safilo, announced its entry into Formula One with a multiyear sponsorship agreement with the Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 team.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT…
Angelo Trocchia is the new CEO and director of Safilo Group S.p.A., replacing Luisa Delgado, who has retired. Trocchia most recently served as chairman and CEO of Unilever Italia. Safilo’s Board of Directors is scheduled to make the appointment official later this month.
Michael J. Guyette has been appointed president and CEO of VSP Global. Guyette will succeed VSP Global Board Member Rob Lynch, who served as interim president and CEO since April 2017.
Optometry Giving Sight will merge its operations into the Brien Holden Vision Foundation, in order to achieve more significant outcomes to benefit millions of people who are needlessly blind or vision impaired.
For these and other news stories, visit eyecarebusiness.com/news .