Zeiss Confirms Jesper Wiegandt as Vision Care CEO with Dual Commercial Role

Zeiss Vision Care appointed Jesper Wiegandt as its new Chief Executive Officer effective October 1, 2026. Wiegandt succeeds Sven Hermann, who retains his role as CEO of Zeiss Consumer Markets and Chairman of the Zeiss Consumer Markets Board. Concurrently, Wiegandt continues to serve as interim Chief Commercial Officer. Having joined Zeiss in 2022, he previously held positions as Chief Marketing Officer and was promoted to CCO in January 2026. The company states that Wiegandt contributed to positioning Zeiss Vision Care as a stronger consumer brand. Before joining Zeiss, he held international leadership roles at Procter & Gamble and founded a strategy and marketing consultancy for global consumer goods brands.

Zeiss Vision Care appointed Jesper Wiegandt as CEO effective October 1, 2026. He assumes strategic and operational leadership of the division while retaining his interim role as Chief Commercial Officer. Wiegandt succeeds Sven Hermann, who continues as CEO of Zeiss Consumer Markets and Chairman of its executive board. Since joining Zeiss Vision Care in 2022 as Chief Marketing Officer and becoming CCO in January 2026, Wiegandt contributed to positioning the business as a consumer brand. Hermann cited Wiegandt’s expertise in consumer goods markets and commercial strategy for the appointment. Previously, Wiegandt held international leadership roles at Procter & Gamble and founded a strategy and marketing consultancy advising global consumer brands.

Effective October 1, 2026, Zeiss appointed Jesper Wiegandt as CEO of Zeiss Vision Care. He succeeds Sven Hermann, who remains CEO of Zeiss Consumer Markets and continues leading its board of management. Wiegandt retains his role as acting chief commercial officer of Zeiss Vision Care. Since joining Zeiss in 2022 as chief marketing officer, he has focused on strengthening the consumer brand and expanding awareness. Prior to Zeiss, he held international leadership roles at Procter & Gamble and founded a strategy consultancy. Separately, Zeiss named Axel Christian president of Zeiss North America, a newly created position unifying operations in the United States and Canada. Christian will lead regional growth initiatives and cross-segment collaboration, based in Dublin, California.

Effective October 1, 2026, Jesper Wiegandt assumed the role of CEO at Zeiss Vision Care, overseeing both strategic and operational leadership. He succeeds Sven Hermann, who remains CEO of Zeiss Consumer Markets and continues to lead that division’s management. Wiegandt will temporarily retain his position as Chief Commercial Officer of Zeiss Vision Care. He joined the company in 2022 as Chief Marketing Officer and was promoted to Chief Commercial Officer in January 2026. Prior to joining Zeiss, Wiegandt held international leadership roles at Procter & Gamble, founded a strategy and marketing consultancy, and served on supervisory boards for companies and non-profit organizations.

Rohan Paul, Business Head for Vision Care at ZEISS India & Neighbouring Markets, identified three key shifts shaping India’s vision care market: rising consumer expectations, changing visual needs due to screen time, and technological advances. He emphasized experience-led retail through initiatives like SpecsLounge and the ZEISS VISION CENTER concept. Addressing myopia, Paul cited expert forecasts that half the global population will be myopic by 2050, with nearly ten percent becoming high myopes. He advocated for structured management focusing on awareness, early detection, monitoring, and appropriate intervention. Highlighting independent opticians' role, he noted internal research showing four out of five consumers seek professional guidance. Paul also pointed to Tier-II and III markets as major growth opportunities, noting that around 60% of participants in ZEISS partnership programs are located outside the top eight cities.

Zeiss announced the appointment of Jesper Wiegandt as CEO of Zeiss Vision Care, effective October 1. In this role, Wiegandt assumes strategic and operational leadership of the global vision care business while continuing to serve as acting chief commercial officer. He succeeds Sven Hermann, who remains CEO of Zeiss Consumer Markets. Wiegandt joined Zeiss in 2022 as chief marketing officer and was appointed chief commercial officer in January 2026. Gary Rosenbaum retains responsibility for the U.S. market as president and CEO of Zeiss Vision Care US. The announcement follows the recent appointment of Axel Christian as president of Zeiss North America, also effective October 1, 2026, a newly created role intended to unify activities across the U.S. and Canada.

Effective October 1, 2026, Jesper Wiegandt was appointed CEO of Zeiss Vision Care. He assumes strategic and operational leadership while continuing to serve as acting Chief Commercial Officer. Wiegandt succeeds Sven Hermann, who remains CEO of Zeiss Consumer Markets and leads its Board of Management. Joined in 2022 as Chief Marketing Officer, Wiegandt became Chief Commercial Officer in January 2026. His background includes international leadership roles at Procter & Gamble and founding a strategy consultancy. Hermann cited Wiegandt’s contributions to brand strength and business growth as key factors for the appointment.

ZEISS Group appointed Jesper Wiegandt as CEO of ZEISS Vision Care, effective October 1. He succeeds Sven Hermann, who remains CEO of the ZEISS Consumer Markets segment and continues to head its board of management. Wiegandt will also stay on as acting chief commercial officer of ZEISS Vision Care.

ZEISS has appointed Jesper Wiegandt as the new Chief Executive Officer of its Vision Care division. This leadership change affects ZEISS Vision Care, a business unit within the Consumer Markets segment that develops and manufactures solutions for ophthalmic optics, including eyeglass lenses, partner programs, instruments, and digital services. The appointment occurs against the backdrop of ZEISS Group’s recent financial performance, which reported annual revenue totaling almost 12 billion euros in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025. As an internationally leading technology enterprise headquartered in Oberkochen, Germany, ZEISS operates globally with over 47,400 employees across approximately 50 countries. The company maintains significant investment in research and development, allocating 14 percent of its revenue to innovation efforts.

Zeiss Group appointed Axel Christian as president of Zeiss North America, effective October 1, 2026. This newly created role unites operations across the U.S. and Canada to strengthen regional integration and growth. Christian will lead initiatives spanning Medical Technology, Consumer Markets, Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology, Industrial Quality & Research, and Photonics & Optics. He will collaborate with Gary Rosenblum, named president and CEO of Zeiss Vision Care US in June 2025, on region-wide opportunities. Based at the Zeiss Innovation Center California in Dublin, Christian brings over 20 years of strategic management experience, having served as CFO of Zeiss Greater China and head of corporate finance at headquarters. The appointment reaffirms Zeiss’s long-term commitment to North America, where it employs more than 3,750 people across over 34 locations.