Sep 2015

Time to move over.......
It’s time to say goodbye
to my role as editor and
publisher of New Zealand
Optics. When I was
first involved in purchasing
the magazine from Barbara
Vague some 34½ years ago
I would never have guessed
that I would spend more than
half my life involved in the
ophthalmic industry. And what
a rollercoaster ride it has been!
I’d like to thank all my
friends and colleagues in
ophthalmology, optometry,
dispensing and the wider
industry including the
university and the many
wholesalers and distributors
for their trust in me and their
support over the years.
For a non-optometrist
and ophthalmologist I feel
privileged to have learnt
so much about your world
whether it be eye conditions,
eye disease, eye surgery,
ophthalmic drugs, the design
of frames and lenses to name
just a few. It’s also been a
privilege to have been involved
in the technological advances
which have transformed this
industry since joining it in the
early 80s. One thing for sure,
these changes are going to
continue to happen and that’s
what has made my job so
exciting.
I’ve had the immense
pleasure to meet people all
around the world associated
with your professions and
industry. Too many highlights
to mention individually
BY MARYANNE DRANSFIELD
but certainly the Essilor
educational conferences held in
Asia would have to be up there,
as well as the 40th anniversary
of Silmo in France.
There have been many
people who have helped
us to make the magazine
the success it is. I’d like to
single out Alan Saks who has
relentlessly churned out a
monthly In Contact column
for over 20 years; Professor
Charles McGhee for having
the insight to develop the Eye
on Ophthalmology column so
research and developments
in ophthalmology got some
exposure, and for orchestrating
along with Associate Professor
Dipika Patel the many people
who have contributed to this
over the years; and Dr Sue
Ormonde whose idea it was
to develop the regular Focus
on Research contribution.
Also thank you to the various
contributors of Focus on
Business, a very worthwhile,
topical column that plays a role
in shaping your businesses.
A special mention too for Dr
Bruce Hadden who kindly
guided the way so we could
embrace ophthalmology in the
magazine. Also a huge thanks
to my business partner and
daughter-in-law Anita who has
worked with me for the past 12
years. She has played a big part
in growing the magazine and
the Optical Information Guide.
It’s the end of an era for
my entire family. All three of
my children have worked in
The familiar faces of Maryanne and Anita Dransfield at work at
ODMA|2015
the business at some stage
and have gotten to know
many of you. Now there are
seven grandchildren who are
mightily relieved they don’t
have to become involved in
sticking labels on bags or
inserting copies.
It’s time to explore new
ventures and take a welldeserved
break with some
travel high on the priority list.
Anita and her family are off for
a year’s travel overseas later
this year before their two girls
start secondary school.
Anita and I have handed over
the reins to Lesley Springall,
a very competent journalist
whom I am sure will take the
magazine to the next level.
Simon Eskow has joined Lesley
as editor. However, I can assure
you that it is business as usual
and we are both continuing
to work with Lesley over the
coming months to ensure that
she is fully settled and gets
a chance to meet everyone. I
will also be continuing with
the publication in a new role
as editor-at-large, where I will
continue to represent NZ Optics
at various industry events
and help Lesley make sure we
continue to keep everyone
informed of what’s going on,
both here and overseas.
Whatever the future holds,
optics will always be close to
my heart. Sincere best wishes
to everyone in this stimulating
and dynamic industry and
thank you for the opportunity
of bringing the changing world
of optics to you for all these
years and for the fun we have
had! O
Rodenstock quashes sale
rumours and eyes NZ
Rodenstock, one of
the world’s biggest
frames and lens
manufacturers, is
not going through any sort of
official sale process, despite
persistent rumours to the
contrary.
Tim McCann, general manager
of Rodenstock Australia,
quashed the rumours in an
interview with NZ Optics shortly
after ODMA. Hearsay is par for
the course for the company
given it’s owned by UK-based
international private equity
company Bridgepoint and a
number of other financiers.
Tim McCann
There are strong rumours that
there is an interested party, said
McCann. “But we don’t know who it is at this stage. The one thing
that is certain and I have an absolute emphatic response on is it’s
definitely not Essilor or Hoya.”
Many were speculating about Rodenstock’s potential sale at
ODMA|2015 this year following an article by Bloomberg Business in
May, which named rival lens manufacturers Essilor International
and Hoya Corp among suitors said to be weighing bids for their
German competitor. Bridgepoint is said to have hired investment
bank Goldman Sachs Group to look at options for the company
earlier this year with any sale likely to fetch more than 500 million
euros ($825 million) for Rodenstock’s shareholders.
After hosting Rodenstock’s international senior management
team at ODMA, McCann says the company is in a good strong
position and is currently looking to expand its presence globally,
including returning to its once strong position in the New Zealand
market. “The strength of the company and the strength of the
brand is obviously growing globally…and certainly the feeling
is that our brand is quite well-recognised in New Zealand and is
viewed favourably so it would make sense to do something with
that and that’s what we’re hoping to do.”
McCann was in New Zealand prior to ODMA, canvassing “some
key opinion leaders” about what it would take to be successful
again in New Zealand. He says the company’s currently weighing
up its options. “There’s nothing definite about how we do it, but
we’re certainly interested. We want to make sure that the quality
of the brand and the reputation of the company is maintained
throughout, so it won’t be anything that will be fast but when we
do it, we will do it well.” O
CORNEAL LENS
CORPORATION N.Z. LTD
ideas into practice
September 2015
NEW ZEALAND OPTICS
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