Safilo Group

Ross Brownlee

Ross Brownlee, a 12-year veteran of Safilo Group, has officially assumed his role as the new president and COO of Safilo North America. Brownlee, who recently relocated from Hong Kong and previously served as managing director of Safilo Far East, is now based in Safilo USA’s headquarters in Parsippany, NJ. His responsibilities now include the management and operations of Safilo USA, Safilo Canada, and Smith Sport Optics. As president/COO, he also now oversees optical and retail sales, product planning and development, licensing and marketing, operations, quality control, new business development, accounting and finance.

Luxottica Group

Vittorio Verdun

Luxottica Group has announced the appointment of Vittorio Verdun to senior vice president of sales. Verdun’s successor as vice president of marketing is Victor Melendez, who will assume marketing responsibility for Luxottica’s brand portfolio. Verdun responsibilities in his new role include managing the sales teams for all of the company’s channels of trade, including independents, department stores and key accounts.

Bausch & Lomb

Peter Valenti III

Bausch & Lomb has named Peter Valenti III as corporate vice president and global president, Vision Care, effective July 1. He joined Bausch & Lomb in January 2009 as president, North America, Vision Care. Valenti replaces Stuart Heap, who has chosen to step down from his current role with Bausch & Lomb for personal reasons effective June 30. Heap will remain an active strategic advisor to Bausch & Lomb.

Viva International Group

Sal Rianna	Viva International Group has named Sal Rianna chief financial officer and chief administrative officer. Rianna most recently served as chief operating officer for luxury linen purveyor Frette North America, Inc. Additional past roles include vice president of finance and operations for DKNY, where he worked with brands including Giorgio Armani, Calvin Klein and Emanuel Ungaro.
Mick Kunish	The company has also promoted Mick Kunish to the position of executive vice president and chief marketing officer. He will be responsible for overseeing brand design, marketing, creative development, business development and public relations. Kunish joined Viva in 2001 as the company’s director of business development.
Drew Donley	Drew Donley has been named senior vice president, domestic sales. In this newly created position, Donley will oversee the areas of retail sun, specialty retail, domestic optical and Canada.

Match Eyewear

Philip Turnage

Match Eyewear has appointed Philip Turnage to the new position of president of sales. His main objective will be to significantly increase the sales force of Match Eyewear and develop new business. Prior to joining Match, Turnage served as vice president of sales for Viva International Group and was responsible for the total U.S. sales across all divisions of that company.

The McGee Group

Bart Floyd

The McGee Group has announced the appointment of Bart Floyd to senior vice president of sales. Floyd has 28 years of experience in the optical industry, most recently as vice president of sales for the Kenmark Group. In his new role Floyd will be responsible for expanding McGee’s retail chain business and independent ECP business, as well as have involvement in new licensing opportunities and product development.

REM Eyewear

Nicolas Roseillier

REM Eyewear has announced the appointment of Nicolas Roseillier to creative director. Roseillier will oversee the product design and development of all REM brands, including Converse, Jones New York, Lucky Brand, Barbie and John Varvatos, as well as the company’s luxury division, Base Curve. Roseillier was most recently creative director at Modo Eyewear where he spent over three years designing and also undertook a major rebranding effort.

Live Eyewear

Trish Bellrose

Live Eyewear has announced the appointment of Trish Bellrose to the position of Product Manager. In her new position, Bellrose is responsible for the company’s brand management, product development and forecasting. She comes to the company with 18 years of product management experience, with the past five years specifically dedicated to the eyewear industry.

U.S. Safety

Bob Egan

U.S. Safety has announced the addition of Bob Egan to its executive team as vice president of sales and marketing. Egan previously held management positions at VWR International, Metron Technologies, Tecnol Medical Products, and Baxter.

TLCVision

James Tiffany

TLCVision's wholly owned subsidiary Sightpath Medical has named James Tiffany, president and chief operating officer of TLCVision, effective immediately. Tiffany had been president of TLCVision’s MSS subsidiary since 2003; the subsidiary’s name was changed to Sightpath last summer.

VSP® Vision Care

Dr. Boy-Juergen Andresen

VSP Vision Care has announced the appointment of Dr. Boy-Juergen Andresen to the VSP Board of Directors. Known as a leading Human Resources professional in his native Germany, Dr. Andresen has written and published numerous articles and books on pensions and labor law, and is a frequent speaker and chair at many national and international pension conferences.

Eyewear by ROI

Eyewear by ROI has announced the addition of Dominic Parisi to their executive team in the role of vice president of sales. Parisi is a certified continuing education speaker and joins Eyewear by ROI after 17 years with Balester Optical, which was named Essilor, Transitions and Crizal’s 2008 Lab of the Year.

Shamir Optical Industry
Shamir Optical Industry Ltd. has appointed Amos Netzer, age 53, as its new chief executive officer, replacing Eyal Hayardeny who has resigned from the position. Netzer’s appointment becomes effective on July 1. Netzer currently serves as the chief executive officer of Spirit Economic Consultants Ltd. He served as an external director of the Shamir board of directors until April 26, 2007.

Marcolin USA
Marcolin USA has named Riccardo Cadorin as its new vice president of sales for the optical channel. Cadorin will oversee management of the U.S.-based sales force, representing Marcolin’s casual/trend and luxury eyewear lines. Cadorin has extensive operations and management experience, with past positions managing sales channels in Europe, Latin America and U.S. markets. 

Shopko
Mike Bettiga, who heads Shopko‘s retail health division—which includes the mass merchant’s optical operations—has been promoted to executive vice president and chief operating officer of the company. Bettiga now assumes responsibility for store operations, legal, real estate and logistics, while continuing to lead the company’s retail health division.


Michael DiSanto passes away

Michael R. DiSanto

Renowned optical writer and educator Michael R. DiSanto passed away May 25, 2009 at the age of 60 in Hudson, Ohio. Michael spent much of his influential career teaching basic and continuing education courses to thousands of opticians, optometrists, ophthalmologists, lab personnel, customer service personnel, and vendor representatives. His educational materials and two books, TOPS and ABO Review Course, offered through the National Academy of Opticianry, help hundreds each year to prepare for certification. He is survived by his beloved wife, Jennifer R. DiSanto; dear son, Michael Nicholas DiSanto; and dear daughters, Misty (Robert) Anderson and Lindsay (Joseph) Yanock; and his grandchildren, Carson and Kennedy Anderson. Michael had been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer, and was self-employed at the time. His family has incurred major expenses, and in lieu of flowers, please send any donations to Jennifer DiSanto, 2211 Jesse Drive, Hudson, Ohio 44236.