Latest News Essilor International Reinforces the Diversity of Gender and Nationalities Within Its Board of Directors By Staff Monday, February 22, 2016 12:18 AM CHARENTON-LE-PONT, France—In order to strengthen the gender balance and international perspective of its board of directors, Essilor International will submit the nomination of two new independent directors to the shareholders’ vote at the company’s annual general meeting on May 11, according to the company. Once these resolutions are approved, Henrietta H. Fore and Annette Messemer will join the board of directors for three years renewable.Fore, of American nationality, will bring to Essilor her business leadership experiences in both public and private sectors. She was the first woman to serve as administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and is the first woman co-chair of Asia Society. Fore is chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Holsman International, a manufacturing, consulting, and investment company operating in the U.S. and international markets.Annette Messemer, of German nationality, is divisional board member of Corporates & Markets at Commerzbank AG (Germany). Essilor will benefit from her extensive expertise in terms of strategy and finance, gained through her functions within international financial institutions, the company said.In addition, Essilor will propose the renewal of the mandate of Maureen Cavanagh, president of the Vision Impact Institute, for another three years and will seek to ratify the nomination of Juliette Favre, chairman of Valoptec Association, both of whom are directors who represent employee shareholders. At the end of the general meeting, and if these resolutions are approved, the board of directors will consist of 14 members representing five nationalities—American, Canadian, Chinese, French and German.