Silmo's Guy Charlot dies

Guy Charlot, former president of the Silmo exhibition in Paris, died at the age of 85 on July 24 having devoted his life to optics and eyewear.

Organisers of the show paid this tribute: 'By encouraging the development of the fair's offering, accelerating its international outreach and promoting the entire industry thanks in particular to the Silmo d'Or Awards, Guy Charlot turned Silmo Paris into a flagship must-visit business trade fair serving the needs of professionals all over the world.'

Charlot had a long career in the ophthalmic lens industry, steering the merger of Guilbert Routit with Benoit Berthiot, resulting in the creation of the international firm BBGR. After a long career in the lens industry and posts in trade union institutions, including as administrator of Silmo, he was elected president in 1993.