Peter Lothes.

HAMBURG, Germany—Peter Lothes, an optical industry veteran, will join Fielmann Group as chief operating officer with group responsibility for manufacturing and logistics worldwide, including locations in Germany, China, the Czech Republic, Poland, Spain and most recently, the U.S. After graduating from Ashland University in 1988, Lothes joined his family’s business that operated both optical retail practices and a leading laboratory in Ohio. Having been acquired by Essilor in 2009, he continued in ever larger roles before becoming president and CEO of Satisloh, the world’s largest optical manufacturing equipment provider based out of Switzerland.

Shortly thereafter, Lothes assumed the role of SVP operations and supply chain of Essilor North America, where he was responsible for 115 optical manufacturing facilities in the U.S., Mexico and Canada, more than 10,000 employees and a production volume of 125,000 pairs of prescription glasses per day. In 2023, he joined Advancing Eyecare, a leading distributor of eyecare equipment, as global chief operating officer.

Marc Fielmann, CEO of the Fielmann Group, said, “We are very excited to have Peter join Fielmann. Manufacturing and logistics is a vital part of our business, serving all Fielmann channels and brands worldwide. Building a winning team across continents capable of taking us to the next level in line with our Vision 2025 is a challenging task, and Peter is the executive to do it. He was not only born and raised in the eyewear industry, but is a caring, dependable and passionate individual who embodies the values we hold dear in our family business.”

 
“I am very excited about joining a global player and a recent entrant to the U.S. market,” said Lothes. “Fielmann serves more than 28 million customers, annually dispenses more than 10 million pairs of glasses and continues to grow in leaps and bounds. I am looking forward to helping Fielmann deliver on its signature customer service with an impeccable manufacturing and logistics solution.

As reported in VMAIL the Fielmann Group entered the U.S. market with the acquisition of SVS Vision in late August.

The Fielmann Group is a German family business that serves 28 million customers via its omnichannel platform consisting of digital sales channels and about 1,100 retail stores. The business employs about 23,000 people worldwide.