SynergEyes Names Kirchner, OD, President and Achenbach, OD, VP of Professional Services




 James Kirchner, OD  Peg Achenbach, OD

CARLSBAD, Calif.— SynergEyes, Inc., manufacturer and marketer of the Duette and UltraHealth families of contact lenses, has promoted James Kirchner, OD, to the position of president of SynergEyes. Kirchner previously served as the senior vice president of clinical and professional relations at SynergEyes where he provided professional leadership of product development and product management, according to the company.

Prior to joining SynergEyes, Kirchner was chief professional officer for Eyefinity/OfficeMate, a VSP Global company. With more than 35 years in private practice optometry, Kirchner also has been president and CEO of more than a dozen start-up companies, both within and outside the ophthalmic industry.

As SynergEyes’ president, Kirchner will guide the company as it seeks to become a leading global contact lens company for independent ECPs, according to a statement from the company. “This is a turning point for SynergEyes,” Kirchner said. “We have made significant changes in the past year to make our lenses easier to fit and our policies practitioner-centric. I look forward to even more positive change as we seek to support the practice of optometry and deliver products that offer the best possible vision for patients.”

In related company news, Peg Achenbach, OD, FAAO, has been appointed vice president of professional services. Dr. Achenbach will be responsible for representing SynergEyes to the ECP community, developing programs to capture the voices of various key opinion leaders and increasing the company’s presence and support within the profession.

Prior to joining SynergEyes, Dr. Achenbach was chief medical and academic strategist at Contamac, Ltd. She also served as senior director of professional and medical Affairs at Vistakon and as manager of worldwide clinical research at Bausch + Lomb. Dr. Achenbach also spent 16 years in private practice in various group practices across the U.S.


Leybold Optics Names Cooke, Jr. Director of Sales for Ophthalmic Products N.A.


 

 Ronald Cooke, Jr.
CARY, N.C.— Leybold Optics, based here, announced that Ronald Cooke, Jr. has joined the company as director of sales for ophthalmic products, North America. Cooke will be responsible for sales of ophthalmic products in the U.S. and Canada.

Cooke comes to Leybold Optics with 21 years of sales and management experience in the optical industry working for Diversified Ophthalmics. His positions there included vice president of sales and marketing and chief operating officer.

Cooke earned a bachelor’s degree at Ohio University, an associate’s degree in optical science at Southern Ohio University and an MBA from Thomas Moore College. He is an Ohio state licensed optician and served on the board of directors for Diversified Ophthalmics. Currently, he is a member of the Vision Council’s Lab Division Steering committee.


Coburn Technologies Promotes Smith to Director of Marketing Communications

 
 Jason Smith
EAST HARTFORD, Conn.— Coburn Technologies has promoted Jason Smith to the position of director of marketing communications, reporting to company president Alex Incera. He takes over from Curt Brey, who has left the company to pursue opportunities outside of the industry.

In his new role, Smith will develop, implement and oversee all marketing of the company’s products, handle all communications to its customers and the industry, and help the sales team and lab works group generate leads and drive sales.

Smith has an extensive background in marketing and design, joining the company in 2010 from Gerber Scientific Products. He has helped the company through its transition from Gerber Coburn, developing its logo and assisting in the development of Coburn Technologies’ values, mission and vision statements. He has supported the market launch of several new product lines over the past few years, and most recently, has played a key role in the development of the company’s new web and e-commerce sites.


Zimco Optics NAMES Hayes New Executive VP of Sales


 

  Scott Hayes
BROOKLYN, N.Y.— Zimco Optics has announced that Scott Hayes has joined the company as its new executive vice president of sales.

Allen Zimberg, Zimco’s founder, CEO, and industry veteran who started in the business in 1950, said, “I have known Scott for many years and I am very excited for him to join our management team.”

Zimco launched English Laundry Eyewear in 2012. The company intends to add new licensed brands in the future, Zimberg said.

Hayes is a long-term eyewear industry executive. Since 1989, he has had sales positions at Viva International Group, Revolution Eyewear and, most recently, was director of corporate sales for Aspex Eyewear. ■