Mr Martin Gregory, a director of Eyecare Plus for the past 11 years, has been unanimously elected by the Eyecare Plus Board to replace chairman Mr Justin Durkin who has retired after nine years in the role.
Gregory started working as a ‘delivery boy’ in 1982 (when he was 14 years old) in the same Wagga Wagga optometry practice he is now a partner of, when it was owned by the Eyecare Plus founder Mr Tony Hanks.
Today, he is a practice owner and qualified accountant with an MBA (corporate finance major) and 40 years’ experience in optometry as an optical dispenser, optical wholesale executive and independent practice owner.
Outgoing chairman Durkin said Gregory was an ideal fit for the role, given his time as an Eyecare Plus director for more than a decade, and vast experience across all areas of the optical industry.
“After three terms in the role, it was time for me to retire and I’m delighted this will be a seamless transition, and to be able to hand over with confidence that Eyecare Plus will continue to go from strength to strength,” Durkin said.
Gregory was honoured to have been elected as the new chairman and was excited about the organisation’s future.
“I’m incredibly proud of what Eyecare Plus has been able to achieve over the past 22 years and I look forward to playing a role in helping to shape the next 22 years. We have a great team who are united by a shared vision and excitement for the future of independent optometry in Australia,” he said.
“Our members include many of the leaders in our profession and industry, so my first priority is to ensure we maintain our collegiate ethos and the sense of teamwork that has helped us to become the largest branded independent optometry group in Australia.”
Durkin and his wife Sara have sold their practices, stating they will miss “the Eyecare Plus family” and will always be supporters of the group.
“Eyecare Plus has been like a second family to us, and while we are excited for this next chapter in our lives, we will certainly miss future member meetings and conferences with our great friends and colleagues who we wish all the very best in the future,” he said.
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