Vision Council plans merger with ESA

Optics took a step closer to forming a single global industry body at Silmo with the proposed merger of the European Sunglass Association and The Vision Council.

Announcing the merger Jamie Shyer, chairman of TVC, said the market was seeing growth and as the organisations had common members a merger made sense. He said TVC had a goal 'to serve as a global voice for vision care products. The ESA coming into TVC will continue those goals'.

Martijn van Eerde, international marketing manager for the ESA, said it was becoming increasingly difficult for small organisations to have the clout needed to lobby effectively; staff seconded from companies were also in short supply. He said there were common goals but lots of organisations in lots of countries fulfilling similar roles. Over the next year ESA members would be consulted with a view to completing the merger within 12 months. The ESA would be freed from administrative tasks so it could concentrate on supporting the industry and delivering communications.