Former VE boss to head US company

Former managing director of Vision Express Reade Fahs has joined the board of US group National Vision, American optical journal Vision Monday has reported. He will become president and chief operating officer.Mr Fahs, who joined Vision Express in 1998 (News, April 3 1998), was with the UK and Ireland optical chain for less than a year before being replaced by ex-Specsavers director Jerry Lewis.Formerly Vista Eyecare, National Vision has 516 outlets in the US and emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last year, Vision Monday has reported. It has 400 vision centres in US Wal-Mart stores, and another 35 in Wal-Mart Mexico. James Kraus will step aside as president and chief executive officer after a transitional period when he will become a director of the company.Mr Fahs was chief executive of First Tuesday, the global internet company, earlier this year.