The expanded and expanding Essilor NZ team

Essilor has added four new people to its New Zealand team and is hoping to add a fifth in the next couple of months, following what it said has been a successful year for its Platinum Partner practices.

New Zealand-qualified dispensing optician Amit Chaudhary and Mike Manolas, who completed a Diploma in Optometry in South Africa and has also worked in dispensing roles in New Zealand, have both joined Essilor NZ in its Auckland headquarters to assist with customer service, training and other initiatives offered to Platinum Partners. While Brigit Healey, previously with Essilor’s specialist Australian safety company PSG Eyewear, has joined the team to support Essilor’s growth in the safety market and be the New Zealand-based safety contact for all PSG enquiries.

Essilor has also expanded its lab team to cope with the company’s growth last year, said Chris Aldous, Essilor NZ territory manager, adding Jaakko Suhonen, who previously worked for Essilor Finland as a specialist rimless fitter.

“Finally, we are looking to employ an additional territory manager to enable closer contact with our customers around the country. We are working with our customers and industry figures to attract the best candidates for this new role,” said Aldous.

“Adding to the expertise and strength of our current support team ensures we can deliver on the new planned service projects as well as new product launches planned for 2018. All in all, we are looking forward to growing our support to independent practices in meeting their goals.”