FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Sherri J. Klaus 858-350-4199; [email protected]
SOLA Sunlens Relocates Headquarters to Italy
VERESE, ITALY (February 15, 2001) - SOLA Sunlens announces the relocation of its U.S. based headquarters to its European offices to strengthen the expanding needs of the division. As of December 31st, 2000, the General Management, Finance, Customer Service, Distribution and Logistics functions have been transferred to the European office and manufacturing facilities in Varese, Italy. To better service Sola Sunlens customers worldwide and to improve the management of the supply chain, a new logistics/customer service organization has been established in Italy. The new structure will have global logistics responsibilities, while customer service will remain under regional management (Europe, Asia and South America). The new headquarters of the division will centrally coordinate brand and customer prioritization both for manufacturing and service purposes.
The U.S. based Sola Sunlens organization will maintain as sales management for the United States and for global marketing functions. Sales Management for Sola Sunlens in the United States will be divided into two regions (East and West), with Mark Espinet, located in NY, responsible for the Eastern Accounts and Zemia Garrett based in Orange County, CA, in charge of Western accounts. The Marketing department, under the direction of Al Gleek, will maintain its global focus, with the on-going development of the Optics by Sola strategy and management of the marketing activities, as well as assist Sola Sunlens research and development efforts and in the promotion of Sola Sunlens new products. Al Gleek will relocate into Sola International office in Del Mar, CA.
"Sola Sunlens has experienced a tremendous sales growth in the past year thanks to the quality of our products and the continuous technical and marketing support offered to our customers' states General Manager, Gaetano Sciuto. "However, we believe that part of our mission should be to provide our customers with an efficient global supply chain delivering lenses and solutions around the world. We are confident that these changes will bring us closer to the market to better satisfy the needs of our customers."
To strengthen the division's position in the operation function, Michele D'Adamo was appointed Global Operations Director. Michele's leadership in the development of the Italian manufacturing plan, a state of the art facility, and his contribution to the logistics set up in Europe has been instrumental in building a strong European business. In addition to overseeing all Sunlens manufacturing plants and suppliers around the world, Michele will also lead the new global logistic group being created in Varese.
Another key appointment in the new management team is Roberto Porrini as Director of Finance. "We continue to strengthen our senior level management team with experienced, skilled professionals, who have served distinguished careers in Sola International" states Sciuto.
Part of the new direction of the company will be an increased focus on the Asian region. The Sola Sunlens office in Hong Kong will be expanded to better service the growing Asian sunglass manufactures with an improved technical support and customer service team.
Sciuto concluded by stating "With long term goals in mind, these changes will not dilute our efforts in research and development for proprietary technology, nor for the quality performance of our sunlens.' We remain confident and enthusiastic about all our innovative new sunlens technology and our co-branded partners exclusive products planned for introduction throughout 2001. Sola's strong brand name provides a solid foundation for continued growth worldwide."
About SOLA Sunlens Division
SOLA Sunlens is the world's leader in premium plastic plano (non-prescription) sunglass lenses. Building on its legacy of innovative ophthalmic plastic lenses, SOLA Sunlens offers a wide range of superior performance sunlenses, coatings and services worldwide.
SOLA Sunlens approach to the sunglass industry is unparalleled, using the most advanced technologies, it provides high performance lenses such as polycarbonate, polarized and hard resin to our global customers and branded sunglass manufacturers. In addition, SOLA Sunlens prides itself on using and creating state-of-the-art patented lens technologies and surface treatments, as well as multi-feature mirror coatings, including: anti-reflective, anti-fog and anti-scratch. Some of our patented and trademarked products include Tough Eyes™, Rock Hard™, Wide Eyes™, UV Gard™, Glare Out™, Fog Out™, Flurescent™ PC and Tri-Flection Mirrors™.
SOLA Sunlens is a division of SOLA International, a publicly traded company on the New York Stock exchange (NYSE: SOL).
