HOYA Vision Care, a global leader in innovative optical technology and eye health solutions, celebrated the 50th anniversary of HOYA Lens Thailand with a spectacular event held in Bangkok from November 13-15, 2024. This milestone brought together nearly 500 dedicated valued customers, employees and esteemed speakers from around the world to reflect on half a century of excellence and pave the way for future innovations.
The anniversary celebration was not just an opportunity to commemorate the achievements of the past five decades but also to share HOYA’s vision for the future. The event featured engaging sessions, keynote speeches, and thought-provoking panel discussions, all designed to inspire and foster collaboration.
An International Gathering for Shared Success
The Anniversary kicked off with a first-ever initiative: the HOYA Vision Care Town Hall was opened to customers for the first time. This bold move brought together HOYA employees and customers in a dynamic forum to discuss the company’s long-term strategies and innovative approaches to vision care.
Key Messages taken out from the Town Hall:
Alexandre Montague, CEO of HOYA Vision Care, opened the event with a heartfelt speech emphasizing the company’s commitment to innovation and partnership. “This week, we’re not just celebrating 50 years of HOYA Lens Thailand; we’re celebrating our people, our customers, and the strong relationships that have fuelled our success,” said Montague.
Ian Wells, CFO of HOYA Vision Care, gave us a financial update. HOYA Corporation has achieved strong progress in Q2, with double-digit growth in both revenue & operating profit vs FY23 Q2. The impressive results were largely driven by sustained high demand in the IT sector, particularly in HDD substrates and LSI business. There has been steady growth in HOYA Vision Care (HVC). HVC has reported a solid mid-single-digit growth in sales, maintaining its strong momentum in the market. Additionally, HVC’s strategic products, including MiYoSmart and Photochromic lenses, demonstrated remarkable growth, further solidifying HOYA’s leadership in innovation within the vision care industry.
Ian mentioned “Despite challenges posed by a prior cyber incident, the Lifecare business is showing signs of recovery with revenue growth. Strategic sales recovery activities have impacted operating profit but underscore the resilience of the segment”
Oxana Pastushenko, Chief Marketing Officer at HOYA Vision Care, spoke passionately about HOYA’s global commitment to advancing vision care and tackling the challenges of myopia management and prevention. She highlighted the impact HOYA has already had, improving the lives of 2.7 million children—a significant achievement, yet representing just 2% of the global population in need.
“Our work towards securing better vision for our young children is just beginning,” Oxana emphasised. “To drive meaningful change, we must unite in a collective effort—engaging institutions, governments, and ministries of health, while raising awareness on the critical importance of early intervention.”
Marius de Beer, Chief Sustainability Officer at HOYA Vision Care shared insights into the company’s ongoing commitment to sustainability, focusing on climate action and community reach. He highlighted HOYA’s efforts to reduce CO₂ emissions and its proactive approach to environmental challenges through the adoption of innovative solutions which enhance production efficiency and minimise environmental impact.
“I am very proud of my colleagues at HOYA Vision Care, which not only share a commitment to sustainability but also take concrete actions,” said Marius. “Key highlights from across the organisation include ORBIS’s international REACH program, in which we supported the screening of more than 570,000 children, a reduction in our carbon footprint by more than 15%, and the global celebration of our ONE VISION Day, which saw more than 86 activities across 27 countries.” compared to FY21 in the past three years
In addressing Innovation and Excellence in HOYA Lens Thailand, Alexandre Montague, CEO of HOYA Vision Care, highlighted the company’s dedication to transforming lives through vision, emphasising HOYA’s focus on customer and patient-centricity. He remarked, “This milestone reflects not only our legacy but also our vision for the future—to provide the most advanced solutions to meet the evolving needs of our customers and patients globally.”
Kozu Kazuma, General Manager of R&D, underscored HOYA’s leadership in innovation, showcasing the company’s dedication to creating cutting-edge technologies that match customer and patient requirements “HOYA Vision Care invest heavily in research and development to ensure our solutions remain at the forefront of the industry, meeting the highest standards of efficacy and precision, following its Japanese legacy” he stated.
Alexandra Roos, Global Director of the R&D Pediatric Program, reaffirmed HOYA’s commitment to addressing global challenges like myopia through scientifically backed and clinically proven innovations. She said, “HOYA Vision Care remains steadfast in its mission to provide solutions that are not only effective but also accessible, helping children and adults achieve better vision and improved quality of life.”
Khun Thipparat Onpaen, President of HOYA Lens Thailand (HOLT), reflected on the remarkable advancements in production and service capabilities achieved over the last 50 years. She shared, “HOLT has continually evolved to meet the rising demand for personalised lens solutions, incorporating automation and innovative processes to ensure exceptional quality and timely efficiency.”
Insightful Keynotes and Expert Panels
The event featured an impressive lineup of speakers who addressed critical topics such as health accessibility, sustainability, the role of innovation and finally purpose-led growth. Highlights included:
- Hassan Damluji, a Global Health Expert, delivered a powerful keynote on “The Role of Companies in Securing Health for All.” and a panel discussion featuring Alexandre Montague CEO of HOYA Vision Care, Andreas Mueller WHO advisor, Mr P. Ram Hoya representative in India working closely with ORBIS, Cecile Clavier, Head of Pediatric Business Unit (PBU).
- Karen Hamilton, former VP of Global Sustainability at Unilever, led a session on “Navigating the Ever-Changing World of Sustainability,” sparking insightful discussions on how businesses can lead the charge toward a sustainable future while introducing panel with Marius de Beer, CSO HOYA Vision Care, Mr Bart van den Nieuwenhof, CEO Nexeye, The Netherlands, Dr Abdullah Zahir, Entrepreneur and Eye Surgeon, Eye Care Hospital, Maldives Hans Werquin, Vice President Global Commercial Key Accounts, Hoya Vision Care.
- Karen Hamilton also introduced us through “The Role of Innovation: Bridging Customer and patient” featuring Mr Kozu- Kasuma GM of R&D in Japan, Dr Alexandra Ross Global Director of R&D Pediatric Program and Khun Thipparat Onpaen President of HOYA Lens Thailand.
- Jon Goldstone, Managing Partner at Brandgym, explored the topic of “Purpose-Led Brands: Driving Core Growth Beyond Price” during the afternoon panel featuring Oxana Pastushenko, CMO HOYA Vision Care, Ian Wells CFO HOYA Vision Care, Oliver FISCHBACH Vice President West Europe HOYA Vision Care and Hassan Damluji – Co-founder, Global Nation and Author, The Responsible Globalist.
Celebrating a Legacy of Innovation
This memorable evening honoured the people behind HOYA’s success, with Alexandre Montague expressing heartfelt gratitude to the employees who have been with HOYA for over a decade on average.
HOYA Lens Thailand by the Numbers
- 50 years of deliveringa clear vision and groundbreaking innovation.
- Over 50 million lenses are crafted annually, improving millions of lives around the world.
- 500 visionaries gathered in Thailand to commemorate this milestone.
Looking Ahead
As HOYA Vision Care celebrates this incredible milestone, the company remains committed to its mission of advancing eye health solutions. The week-long event was not only a celebration of past successes but also a catalyst for future endeavours aimed at making high-quality vision care accessible to all.
“Thank you to everyone who has been part of this incredible journey. Here’s to the next 50 years of excellence, innovation, and sustainable impact and health for all,” concluded Montague.
