Leadership Changes at Luxottica Retail N.A.

MASON, Ohio—A series of senior leadership changes were announced today at Luxottica Retail North America, the retail division of Luxottica Group.

They include promotions for several executives and departures for others, among Luxottica Retail’s major brands:

Mary Anne Stangby, currently SVP & GM of Sears Optical has been promoted to SVP & GM of Sunglass Hut North America (SGH). She assumes the role from John Haugh, who after four-and-a half years with SGH, will be leaving Luxottica and moving to Iconix as CEO. Prior to her role at Sears Optical, Stangby was VP of Business Development for Sunglass Hut.

Pete Bridgman, currently SVP & GM of Pearle Vision has been promoted to SVP & GM of LensCrafters. He assumes the role from Eric Anderson, a long-time Luxottica executive, who has decided to pursue leadership opportunities outside of Luxottica. Anderson will support Bridgman through the transition over the next few months. Bridgman has run Pearle for the past two years and led strategy for EyeMed before that.

Alexis McLaughlin, SVP & GM of Target Optical will add Sears Optical to her leadership responsibilities. With this promotion, she will manage both of the group’s hosted environments. Target and Sears will have two different leadership teams reporting to her.

Alex Wilkes, currently VP of Eye Care for LensCrafters, has been promoted to SVP & GM for Pearle Vision. Nicola Brandolese, president, Retail Optical Americas, shared the news of the changes with employees at Luxottica’s retail headquarters here.


Pfizer Names Executive Team for Combined Group Upon Completion of Allergan Transaction

NEW YORK—Pfizer Inc. has announced the executive leadership team for the combined Pfizer and Allergan plc business following the close of the proposed transaction, which is expected to be completed in the second half of this year. As previously announced, following the closing, Brent Saunders will become president and chief operating officer of the combined company with responsibility for the oversight of Pfizer and Allergan’s combined commercial businesses, manufacturing and strategy functions.

Effective immediately and through the closing of the transaction, Pfizer’s Global Innovative Pharma (GIP) business and its Vaccines, Oncology and Consumer (VOC) business will operate separately under the leadership of Albert Bourla, currently group president, VOC. Upon the closing of the transaction, the vaccines and oncology businesses will be combined with the GIP business, and Albert Bourla will become group president, Global Innovative Pharma, leading all of these businesses.

In addition, following the close of the transaction, the combined company will create a new operating segment named Global Specialty and Consumer Brands that will include Pfizer’s consumer health care unit and Allergan’s ophthalmology and aesthetics businesses, and Botox therapeutic and cosmetic. Bill Meury, currently executive vice president and president of Branded Pharma at Allergan, will become group president, Global Specialty and Consumer Brands, Pfizer.

After the close of the proposed transaction, Pfizer will continue to manage the combined company’s commercial operations through two distinct businesses: an Innovative Products business and an Established Products business. The Innovative Products business will be composed of two operating segments: the Global Innovative Pharmaceutical and the Global Specialty and Consumer Brands segment. The Established Products business will continue to be led by John Young, and consist of the Global Established Pharmaceutical segment, including all legacy Hospira commercial operations.

Pfizer also announced that Geno Germano, group president, Global Innovative Pharma Business, will be leaving the company.


Walman Elects Two New Board Members

MINNEAPOLIS—Walman, based here, announced that Mildred Curtis and Jon Dymit have been elected to its board of directors. They replace recent retirees Al Willenbring, Craig Giles and Mark Parker.

Curtis joins the board with over 20 years of experience in the optical industry and a rich background in legal and human resources. Starting off her career as an attorney for the Department of Justice, Antitrust Division in Washington D.C., she then joined LensCrafters where she served as the senior vice president of legal and human resources. When LensCrafters was acquired by Luxottica, Curtis became part of Luxottica’s executive group and ultimately earned the role of senior vice president of human resources. Curtis holds a juris doctorate degree from the University of Cincinnati and is now retired.

Dymit brings to the board more than 36 years of optical industry experience. He began his career with Walman Optical while attending the University of Minnesota. After college, he became a sales representative for Walman Optical, and then for Walman Instruments. He then became director of sales for SOLA Optical, USA. In 1998, Dymit rejoined the Walman Instruments team and continues to serve as the vice president and general manager of the division. He recently became the chair of Walman’s Charitable Giving Committee.