GARDEN CITY, N.Y.—Glenn Spina, a former president and chief operating officer of America’s Best Contacts & Eyeglasses, is now chief executive officer, president and a director of Emerging Vision (OTC BB: ISEE.OB).

Spina succeeds Chris Payan, Emerging Vision’s president/CEO until his contract expired Nov. 30. The company—parent of the Sterling Optical chain and operator of eyewear purchasing groups Combine Buying Group and the Optical Group—announced in early September that Payan’s contract would not be renewed.

Spina was president/COO of America’s Best from 1990 to 1997.

Said Alan Cohen, OD, Emerging Vision’s chairman, “We worked hard to select a leader with extensive optical management experience.

Payan joined Emerging Vision from Arthur Andersen in July 2001 as VP of finance. ■