Q
A
“
Perreault has a deep strategic understanding of
background, as well as a commitment to Essilor’s
mission of improving lives by improving sight.
What are your short-term
priorities as president?
My priority today is to get out
and visit as many customers
as possible to better understand
their needs and concerns. Using
positive leadership, I want to
know what they’re thinking and
needing to provide better services
and solutions. We want to be a
partner of reference and trust for
all industry partners throughout
Canada. Listening and assessing
our current landscape is essential
for us and the entire industry’s
future success. This is how we will
support our mission of improving
lives by improving sight for all
Canadians.
Q
A
”
the company and its operations, a sound financial
What are your long-term
goals?
My goal is to provide the
best sight possible to the
25 million people who already
have vision correction; protect
36.7 million people’s eyes from
harmful light and sight-
threatening conditions; and give
access to vision to underserved
communities and the 2.2 million
people whose vision is currently
uncorrected. This means
innovating and bringing to market
new products and solutions that
provide growth and value creation
as well as developing services that
smartly leverage new business
models. We need to be present
where consumers are to make sure
we reach them when they want,
how they want and at the price
point that works for them.
Myopia is of particular concern.
Myopia is a worldwide epidemic
(half of the world population would
be myopic by 2050). In Canada,
as much as 30% of Canadians are
myopic (11M) and 30% of myopic
kids are not corrected (source:
CAO). 80% of learning in a child’s
first 12 years comes through
his eyes. Yet, 86% of Canadian
children under the age of 6 have
never had a comprehensive eye
exam. Only 49% of ECPs have
plan for myopia control. We’re
committed to raising awareness on
this epidemic, the lifestyle causes
of myopia and the symptoms to
look for while providing solutions
early on that prevent further
development of myopia. Parents
need to know the symptoms to
ensure their children receive the
vision treatment they need.
Q
What experience and
passion do you bring to
the role?
A
By far the most important
sense is our eyes. We
perceive up to 80% of all impres-
sions by means of our sight. For
everyone, everywhere to see
clearly, enjoy life’s moments
clearly, this is my passion. I have
worked in our offices in France and
Singapore and traveled to many
other countries on different
continents with the company
allowing me to experience the
Essilor culture and live the
mission. For example, I saw the
work we do with the Yi minority in
China’s Yunnan province through
the Vision Ambassador program
as well as the Eye Mitra program
in India. We’re making a differ-
ence in people’s lives and improv-
ing their quality of life. Even here
in Montreal, I participated in
Optical Prism | May 2019 21