Contact lens optician Cheryl Donnelly has been appointed to the new role of chief executive officer of The British Contact Lens Association.
Donnelly, a former BCLA president, joins from Bausch+Lomb where she was director, medical affairs, Vision Care for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Having joined the BCLA Council as dispensing section chair in 1997, she was elected president in 2000 and awarded BCLA Fellowship in 2007.
The newly created role replaces the responsibilities of BCLA secretary general Vivien Freeman, who will retire at the year end. It will involve the day-to-day running of the BCLA, supporting the Council and staff, delivering on investment and business plans, and increasing membership and conference delegate numbers. She officially begins in January.
Freeman said: ‘I am delighted to be leaving the BCLA in the very capable hands of Cheryl Donnelly, who has been a great supporter of the Association and its membership over many years. Under Cheryl’s stewardship, I have no doubt that the BCLA will continue to grow and thrive. She brings enormous enthusiasm to the new role and I wish her, the Association and its members all the very best for the future.’
BCLA president Andy Yorke added: ‘We are delighted that Cheryl has accepted the appointment of CEO and I am looking forward to working with her closely in the coming months. She joins the BCLA at a time of significant change and her in-depth knowledge of the contact lens market, both in the UK and overseas, will be of immense importance in continuing the many changes that are still planned across the next few years.’
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Cheryl Donnelly joins BCLA as CEO
Contact lens optician Cheryl Donnelly has been appointed to the new role of chief executive officer of The British Contact Lens Association.
Donnelly, a former BCLA president, joins from Bausch+Lomb where she was director, medical affairs, Vision Care for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Having joined the BCLA Council as dispensing section chair in 1997, she was elected president in 2000 and awarded BCLA Fellowship in 2007.
The newly created role replaces the responsibilities of BCLA secretary general Vivien Freeman, who will retire at the year end. It will involve the day-to-day running of the BCLA, supporting the Council and staff, delivering on investment and business plans, and increasing membership and conference delegate numbers. She officially begins in January.
Freeman said: ‘I am delighted to be leaving the BCLA in the very capable hands of Cheryl Donnelly, who has been a great supporter of the Association and its membership over many years. Under Cheryl’s stewardship, I have no doubt that the BCLA will continue to grow and thrive. She brings enormous enthusiasm to the new role and I wish her, the Association and its members all the very best for the future.’
BCLA president Andy Yorke added: ‘We are delighted that Cheryl has accepted the appointment of CEO and I am looking forward to working with her closely in the coming months. She joins the BCLA at a time of significant change and her in-depth knowledge of the contact lens market, both in the UK and overseas, will be of immense importance in continuing the many changes that are still planned across the next few years.’
