Former locum and retail director returning from New Zealand duo now at helm of Wells practice

Former locum and retail director returning from New Zealand duo now at helm of Wells practice

A WELLS optometrist practice has appointed two new directors with a wealth of clinical and retail expertise – including from the other side of the world.

Retail director Kim Bingham began her career in optics at the Stamford store in 2004 before relocating to New Zealand. She owned the Specsavers store in Auckland before being given the opportunity to take on a store in Dunedin.

During her 12 years in New Zealand, she gained a huge amount of experience before returning to the UK to take up the reigns of the Wells practice.

Louise, originally from Northern Ireland, has lived in Bristol for 13 years. With 20 years of experience as a locum optometrist, including the last 13 years spent working across the South West, she embraced the opportunity to become a Specsavers practice director when the role became available.

‘I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my new role so far,’ says Kim. ‘It’s been an incredible journey – nearly 21 years of experience at Specsavers has shaped my career in so many ways. My family and I have now settled in the wonderful city of Wells, and it has been fantastic.

‘Both myself and Louise have already started to build relationships with our fantastic team, patients and the local community. Everyone has been so friendly and welcoming – the transition couldn’t have been smoother.’

Louise adds: ‘The whole team has been incredibly supportive as we’ve settled into our new roles, and it’s been a fantastic experience so far. I’ve been working as an optometrist for more than 20 years, and no two days have ever been the same.

‘Good eyecare plays such a vital role in supporting overall health, and it’s incredibly rewarding to help our patients maintain good vision and wellbeing,’ continues Louise. ‘Taking on this new role is an opportunity to make an even greater impact by ensuring our community has access to the best possible eyecare. I’m excited to continue building strong relationships with our patients and providing the highest quality eyecare.’