CINCINNATTI—Luxottica's North American Retail Group has made a series of organizational and operational changes recently, VMail has learned, which includes the adoption of a new management and regional reportig structure for its North American retail brands and the creation and reorganization of a new internal "EyeCare Centers of Excellence" group.

The changes have also impacted a number of positions through the organization. In addition to those, two long-term Luxottica senior executives, will be retiring. They include Walley Lovejoy, senior vice president, eyecare, who will retire at the end of the year and become a consultant to the the company, and George Minakakis, senior vice president and general manager, Canada, who will be taking early retirement and leaving the company on Oct. 14.

A Luxottica spokesperson, confirmed the changes to VMail and said, "We have been reviewing the organizational structure and making adjustments to meet evolving customer needs, business priorities and future opportunities. Adapting is a normal part of Luxottica operations as we constantly imagine new ways to serve and inspire customers and evaluate opportunities to be more efficient and effective. Several of our North America retail brands and businesses recently completed detailed reviews resulting in a series of changes to roles and responsibilities."

The spokesperson explained, "Previously, our retail brands in Canada operated under separate leadership and direction than their U.S. counterparts. Canada is a very important part of Luxottica's North America business, with strong growth potential. Going forward, we are adopting a new North America structure which aligns all Canadian retail reporting by brand and integrates North America shared services. As a result, Canadian field leaders now report directly into their respective North America brand leadership and shared service functions in the Toronto office have been streamlined." He added, "We will continue to respect the unique cultural characteristics and needs of our Canadian patients, customers, doctors and associates with distinct roles and strategies as appropriate."

The spokesperson noted, "Minakakis has decided to take early retirement to spend time with his family and focus on new opportunities. George has been with Luxottica for 17 years, contributing to many successful ventures and new initiatives. From Canada to China, to the U.S. and back home again, George has been an inspiring leader."

Luxottica is also establishing internally EyeCare Centers of Excellence, described by the spokesperson as "teams of experts with a dedicated focus on developing and delivering best-in-strategies, services and support for our doctors and opticians. All Luxottica North America optical retail brands are strengthening the role of doctors, EyeCare services and opticianry within their own organizational structure. In addition, we continue to support one strong Eye Care shared services team as a centralized resource to lead optometry and opticianry across all brands. Based on the integration of these roles within the brands, we have restructured and reduced positions on the Eye Care team to align resources with the service levels required to deliver brand priorities."

The spokesperson added, "Wally Lovejoy has been an important voice for eyecare at Luxottica and in the industry for 25 years. We are pleased he will continue with Luxottica in a consulting role in 2012." He added, "We are currently accepting applications for the vice president of Eye Care services position that will lead the shared services team reporting to Dave Plogmann, senior vice president, optical partnerships."

Regarding the overall scope of their field and management changes, which include LensCrafters store management, expanded regional roles at Pearle, and a reorganization and reduction in positions on the eyecare teams, the spokesperson said, "As we adjust our organizational structure and resources to meet customer needs and business priorities, we made changes affecting approximately 100 positions across our North America field leadership and offices in Toronto and Cincinnati. Approximately 60 pecent of associates affected by these changes were offered new opportunities and we are pleased that many will continue with us in new roles."

As VMail has previously reported, in January, Luxottica Retail N.A. established a management committee of senior retail and managed vision care executives.