Rodenstock has appointed Lucas Gestin as Director Global Retail and International Key Accounts Eyewear.
In this new role, Gestin will lead Rodenstock’s travel retail business and grow the international and online accounts for both the Rodenstock and Porsche Design Eyewear brands.
He will be working alongside Rodenstock’s Munich-based travel retail team. Gestin replaces Petra Eckhardt-Köstler who left the company earlier this year to re-join her consulting firm P5 Marketing Agency.
A seasoned veteran in the sunglasses category, Gestin was previously at EssilorLuxottica [created after the merger of Essilor International and Luxottica Group in 2018] where he helped grow the group’s global businesses, particularly in the Asia Pacific market.
Gestin commented: “I am delighted to be joining Rodenstock at such a pivotal and exciting time for the industry. Travel retail has faced a very challenging last year, but the signs of recovery are now upon us, and we are confident that the market will build back better than ever.
“The eyewear sector will be at the heart of that recovery as shopping for sunglasses, especially luxury sunglasses, is an integral part of the travelling and holiday experience for many consumers. With our range of stylish and luxurious designs, each crafted with the highest levels of quality to set them apart in the market, Rodenstock is perfectly placed to help drive that recovery.”
Gestin added, “We also understand that no one can recover from the effect of the pandemic alone; partnership and collaboration have been more important than ever in the past year, and I am excited to work alongside our existing partners and to create new opportunities as the market bounces back.”
