Industry veteran Ed Greene, Chief Executive Officer of The Vision Council, has announced that he will retire in late 2014 after nearly 8 years at the helm of the organization.

Under Greene’s leadership The Vision Council has seen an unprecedented increase in membership, growing from almost 250 member companies to more than 750. He has overseen a complete rebranding of the organization, formerly known as the Vision Council of America (VCA), and extended consumer outreach for the industry beyond a simple vision exam reminder into what is now an expansive multi-channel marketing and advertising program promoting the entire spectrum of vision care products and services and creating over 1 Billion consumer impressions each year.

“I have had many great years with The Vision Council, and am proud of the tremendous staff that I am leaving as well as the progress that this organization has made in representing the manufacturers and suppliers of the optical industry,” said Greene. “I am confident that the work that is being done here, and across the industry as a whole, is headed in the right direction.”

Since Greene began his role at The Vision Council in September of 2006, he has facilitated mergers with the Sunglass Association of America (SAA), European Sunglass Association (ESA), Optical Laboratories Association (OLA) and California Optical Lab Association (COLA), and has built new and long lasting relationships with all partner associations, transforming The Vision Council into the diverse global industry representative that it is today. In addition, he has overseen the annual International Vision Expo events – which the organization co-owns – achieving record-breaking attendance two separate years, first in 2012 and again in 2014 with 16,830 attendees at East, plus near record-breaking attendance at West in 2006, 2010 and 2013.

“Ed is one of the most respected professionals in the eyecare industry, and it has been a pleasure to work with him throughout his time at The Vision Council” said Raanan Naftalovich, Chairman of The Vision Council Board of Directors. “His leadership has helped to expand the voice of organizations offering vision care products and services, and helped to shape the industry into what it is today.”

Greene began his career working for Schott Glass, Coburn Optical and Titmus Optical. In 1989, he became president and CEO of Titmus Optical, serving for nine years. Greene then moved to Carl Zeiss Optical, Inc., where he led the company as president and CEO for 10 years and served as vice president of Americas for business development. After retiring from Carl Zeiss in 2006, Greene formed his own optical consulting firm, On the Edge, Inc.

Prior to the merger of the Vision Industry Council of America (VICA) and the Optical Manufacturers Association which created VCA, Greene served as VICA’s president. He also held several volunteer posts throughout the optical community, as well as in several business associations.

After over 30 years in the optical industry, Greene plans to retire with his wife, Susan, at their home in Midlothian, VA and spend more time with their four children and five grandchildren.

The Vision Council is conducting a thorough search to select a new Chief Executive Officer. Inquiries may be sent to Donna Jones, Human Resources Manager, at djones@thevisioncouncil.org or (703)548-6782.