John French is to retire as chief executive officer (CEO) of SightCare at the end of October after nine years in the role.
Succeeding John will be Emma Rawlings, who joins the team at their offices in Basingstoke this month for a short handover period.
Emma joins SightCare from the Somerset Chamber of Commerce, where as CEO she is said to have “played a pivotal role in empowering businesses across the region, fostering growth, championing local enterprise and ensuring that the Chamber remained a vital resource for businesses”.
SightCare chairman, Martin White, said: “We are delighted to welcome Emma as our new CEO. Emma’s career is a testament to her dedication, resilience and unwavering support for those she serves, qualities that make her a fantastic fit for SightCare as she leads us through our next phase of our development.
“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank John for his years of dedication and service to SightCare. John’s leadership and passion have inspired countless independent optical practices across the UK, helping them grow, innovate, and thrive and his legacy will continue to shine in the optical community. On behalf of the Board, I wish him very well on his retirement and in all his future endeavours.”
Emma said: “I’m extremely excited to be joining SightCare where I will be putting our members at the very centre of my decision making as we navigate challenges and seize new opportunities together.”