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- Leightons and Tempany's Boutique Opticians join forces
Leightons and Tempany's Boutique Opticians join forces
Poole practice to be rebranded and refurbished following merger
18 January 2016
Leightons Opticians and Hearing Care in Poole has merged with the award-winning Tempany’s Boutique Opticians and Contact Lens Specialists in the town.
Tempany’s practice will close and the merged Leightons practice will be rebranded Leightons and Tempany Opticians & Hearing Care. Practice owner Keith Tempany will take up a new role with Leightons.
Tempany’s previously won several industry awards, including Contact Lens Practitioner of the Year in 2014 and 2010, and was shortlisted for the same award in 2009 and 2012 by Optician magazine.
The merged practice will undergo an extensive refurbishment this year, and Mr Tempany’s role will evolve with him dividing his time between the practice and Leightons head office in Farnham, Surrey.
Ryan Leighton, chief executive of Leightons, which employs 227 people, said: “We’re privileged and delighted to welcome Keith into our business, as he brings a great deal of specialist contact lens experience to Leightons. We’ll be working closely with Keith and our team in Poole to position the practice as a centre of excellence, combining specialist optical, contact lens and audiology services.”
Mr Leighton added: “It’s part of our on-going strategy to partner up with best-in-market independent practitioners, finding mutually beneficial ways to strengthen the business, invest and innovate in the future. So we take care of the business administration and marketing, freeing Keith’s time to work with the team and focus enhancing the contact lens experience and dispensing experience.”
Mr Tempany said: “My aim with the partnership is to grow the contact lens segment within the Leightons group by diversifying what we currently offer and, with our experience in specialist lenses, to inspire the group to look at contact lenses as a life-changing opportunity for everyone, regardless of age or prescription.”
Mr Tempany is president elect of the British Contact Lens Association and has been involved as a key opinion leader and adviser for various contact lens manufacturers.
His career spans over 30 years. He opened his first practice after managing several optical practices in Devon. In 2002 he opened the clinic in Poole, which initially was a contact lens and dry eye-only practice, that later moved to its current location.
The merger follows a number of joint venture partnerships that Leightons has initiated with independent practices in the South of England.
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