GARDEN CITY, N.Y.—Christopher Payan, chief executive officer and president of Emerging Vision (OTC BB: ISEE.OB), will leave the company following a decision by Payan and Emerging Vision not to renew his employment agreement, which expires Nov. 30, an announcement said last week.

Emerging Vision is the parent of the 140-store Sterling Optical chain, and operates buying groups Combine Optical and the Optical Group.

Payan joined Emerging Vision from the Arthur Andersen accounting firm in July 2001 as vice president of finance, and became its senior VP and chief financial officer in October of that year. In April 2002, he was named one of three co-chief operating officers; Payan became Emerging Vision’s CEO in June 2004.

Acknowledging Payan’s role in “the turnaround of Emerging Vision and the company’s expansion into new business sectors,” Alan Cohen, OD, the company’s board chairman, said the board has begun a search for a new CEO.