Kovin Naidoo (r), interim CEO.
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SYDNEY, Australia—The board of the Brien Holden Vision Institute announced the appointment of Professor Kovin Naidoo to the position of interim CEO following the passing of Professor Brien Holden, OAM.

“While we mourn the loss of our beloved leader and friend we are reminded that the goals we collectively set and share, the movement that we began together, that changed the course of our industry’s history and millions of lives, will live on with passion, conviction and commitment to Brien’s legacy and our purpose to see vision for everyone everywhere,” Naidoo said.

Prior to being named the interim CEO, Naidoo was the deputy CEO of the Brien Holden Vision Institute. He is also a board member and director of global programs for the institute’s public health programs as well as a member of the institute’s management group.

Naidoo is currently the CEO of the African Vision Research Institute and an associate professor of optometry as the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) where he also served as the head of optometry.

He has served on numerous boards and held various elected and voluntary positions throughout his career. He is the founder and chair of the KwaZulu-Natal Eyecare Coalition which is working to establish cataract surgical services in the public sector as well as the South African National Cataract Coalition.

Naidoo is a Fulbright Scholar, was African Optometrist of the Year in 2002 and named International Optometrist in 2007. He was jointly awarded with Professor Brien Holden the Schwab Social Entrepreneur Award for Africa in 2010.

Naidoo was awarded a PhD from the University of New South Wales, a Doctorate of Optometry from Pennsylvania College of Optometry, a Masters in Public Health from Temple University and a BSc and BOptom from the University of Durban-Westville.