CooperVision, Inc. has announced that eye health industry veteran Guy Whittaker has been appointed vice-president, global marketing. He is responsible for advancing the company’s master and product brands, marketing its comprehensive range of contacts lens products and services and strengthening its reputation worldwide in collaboration with its customers.
Whittaker, a former practicing optometrist, has held management roles with CooperVision since 1998. Most recently he was general manager, Australia/New Zealand & Southeast Asia, and vice-president, strategy, Asia-Pacific, where he stimulated company and customer growth substantially above market rates. Prior, he held positions as vice-president, marketing, Asia-Pacific; director of global marketing with responsibility for the launch of the Biofinity brand; and director of European marketing.
Earlier in his career, he led European Professional Services for the former Essilor and Ocular Sciences organizations since acquired by CooperVision. He was also at the heart of significant growth at contact lens practices in Edinburgh and Glasgow, and helped establish the first laser refractive surgery center in Scotland.
“With CooperVision continuing to outpace market growth, and as we further expand the world’s broadest range of soft contact lens products and services, it’s critical that we have leaders who embrace what’s needed to make the most of this momentum,” said Andrew Sedgwick, executive vice-president of commercial strategy and business development, CooperVision. “Guy’s success in our high growth Asia-Pacific markets, coupled with his understanding as an optometrist about how to best partner with our customers, will be advantageous to CooperVision and the entire industry.”
Whittaker holds a BSc (Hons) in Optometry from the University of Wales in Cardiff, and a MBA from Durham University Business School in Durham, England. He is based at CooperVision’s headquarters in Pleasanton, Calif.
Whittaker was named to the role following the recent promotion of his predecessor, Jerry Warner, to President, North America.
