SCENE + HEARD Essilor of America Sets 2015 Strategy in Motion at Banff Sales Meeting By Andrew Karp Monday, January 19, 2015 12:00 AM The Canadian Rockies provided a spectacular backdrop to Essilor of America’s 2015 National Sales Meeting, held here last week. The four-day conference in Banff, Canada drew hundreds of independent distributors, plus executives and staffers from Essilor’s sales, marketing and administrative departments. In a series of strategy sessions, the company’s management team presented its sales objectives and marketing plans. Highlights include the launch of a 50-week consumer advertising campaign featuring on-air, print and digital components, and the renewal of Essilor’s successful “Power of 3” consumer promotion for Varilux, Crizal and Transitions lenses, which is being expanding to include XPerioUV. Management also announced several new products, notably eight solid colors and six gradient tints that are being added to the XPerioUV line this summer, and three new Varilux progressive lenses. The Banff meeting was also a debut for Eric Leonard, who took over from John Carrier as president of Essilor of America in August, 2014 when Carrier was named a chief operating officer of Essilor International. 1/16 Howard Purcell, OD, senior VP, customer development, greeting conference attendees. David Cockrell, OD, president of the American Optometric Association, spoke about optometry’s recent progress. Essilor’s Jim Rabbit, left, and Robin Rhodes of Essilor’s Instrument Division relaxing at the opening night reception. Optical retailer Jill Scott, left and Essilor sales manager Denise Brady, sold raffle tickets to support a fund in honor of the late Mary Lou Maguire, a longtime Essilor sales executive. (Maguire is pictured on the buttons they’re wearing). Joe Naim of the Essilor brand group speaks with Kameron Brewer, center, and Tamara Sanders from the Crizal team, about marketing plans for Crizal. Dee Galvin, Essilor brand sales, Natalie Bowe, Essilor Labs, Brandy Wheeler, Essilor brand sales and Leslie Stern, Essilor Labs, share a moment between meetings. Howard Purcell, OD, toasts the Essilor brand team’s success in 2014. One of the many scenic views of the Canadian Rockies that can be enjoyed from the Fairmont Banff Springs hotel, where the Essilor 2015 NSM was held. Karen Francis of Nassau Vision Group, left, and Ingrid Myers of Essilor of America, offered information about the Essilor Women’s Network. Steve Sutherlin of Sutherlin Optical, left, catches up with Dave Kathe of Aspen Optical. Bidisha Rudra of Essilor’s IDD Group, giving a presentation to executives from Essilor’s partner labs. Mike Daley, CEO of The Vision Council, describes the organization’s programs during a session for Essilor’s independent distributors. Essilor NSM attendees taking a hike through the Johnson Canyon near Banff, one of several outdoor activities offered. Maureen Cavanagh, the new president of the Vision Impact Institute, left, with Kristan Gross, who has just been named as the Institute’s director of content and communications. Eric Leonard, who became president of Essilor of America in August, 2014, briefed Jobson’s Marc Ferrara and Andrew Karp about the company’s current initiatives. First-time attendees to the Essilor NSM were welcomed to the meeting, including Essilor of America president Eric Leonard (standing). At his right are Carl Bracy, executive vice president, market and business development for Essilor of America and Sherianne James, director of global marketing for Transitions Optical.