New Country Manager Alcon puts trust at the center

Since joining Alcon in 2017, Philip Bartos has built an impressive career path. Starting as a digital marketing trainee in Vision Care, he has grown into his current role as Country Manager and Franchise Head Vision Care for the Benelux. A development that not only highlights his ambition, but also his broad international experience. “My career has taken me across several countries: from Switzerland to Austria and from the United Kingdom to Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. That international experience helps enormously in understanding different perspectives and cultural nuances. Ultimately, everything revolves around people: our partners and their customers. And trust is essential in that.”

Trust as a common thread

That focus on trust runs like a common thread throughout Philip Bartos’ life. Not only professionally, but also personally. “Trust is truly a core value for me. Building relationships, understanding each other and growing together; that is what it is all about.” From his predecessor Wojciech Michalik, he took away important lessons. “What I particularly appreciate is his ability to bring calm and clarity. He gave teams the space to make decisions, but also the responsibility to deliver results. That balance is something I definitely want to continue within the Benelux organization.” The mission of Alcon – helping people see ‘brilliantly’ – is anything but abstract for Philip.

“I have personally experienced what it means when your vision changes. At a young age, I had an eye condition that required surgery. That moment, that uncertainty and ultimately the solution: that makes this industry very personal to me. It is precisely that combination of innovation and impact that makes the difference. A contact lens is a small product, but the impact on someone’s life is enormous. That continues to fascinate me.”

Innovation and education

Within Vision Care, innovation plays a key role. Alcons WATERINNOVATIONS™-portfolio is a clear example of this. Philip: “We innovate in the places where comfort1-4 truly arises. We do not only look at optical design and material properties, but at where comfort1-4* really begins: the lens surface, the part that comes into direct contact with the eye.” This goes one step further with products such as PRECISION7. The introduction of a weekly replacement cycle, combined with an intuitive wearing schedule 5, appears to be well received in the market.

This is the alternative when daily lenses are not an option. “During NCC2026, we received a lot of positive feedback on this,” Philip says enthusiastically. “It aligns with the daily routine of contact lens wearers and makes it easy to match proper use with the needs of daily life.” In addition to product innovation, Alcon strongly focuses on education. The Alcon Experience Academy in Mechelen plays an important role in this. “We see education as an investment in the entire sector,” Philip continues. “From peer-to-peer sessions to clinical training: it helps to share knowledge and strengthen collaboration with partners. It is important that we all stay ahead.”

Strong collaboration in the Benelux

Since his start in the Benelux, the strength of the team and its partners has stood out. “I feel truly inspired by the people here. Both the team and our partners make a difference. The market in the United Kingdom is fast and dynamic. In the Benelux, I see a strong customer-focused, data-driven approach. Contact lens specialists take the time to properly understand, test and evaluate new products based on evidence. Fantastic! Alcon truly sees itself as a partner and is committed to growing the category together with our eye care professionals.”

Benelux Sales Team

Behind this vision is a dedicated and experienced sales organization. The Alcon Benelux Sales Team supports daily with knowledge, tools and practical solutions. From product training to in-store activation and category management: the team helps to make the contact lens category visible and relevant in practice. “Anyone who wants to further build on growth, innovation and customer satisfaction does not have to look far. Talk about it with your sales manager. We share the same goal: working together on better vision solutions for our customers.”

www.myalcon.com/nl, www.myalcon.com/be

*Measured after 16 hours.

References

1. Perez-Gomez I, Giles T. European survey of contact lens wearers and eye care professionals on satisfaction with a new water gradient daily disposable contact lens. Clin Optom. 2014;6:17-23.
2. Fogt J, Patton K. Long day wear experience with water surface daily disposable contact lenses. Clin Optom. 2022(14):93-99.
3. In a 2-week prospective clinical study in the US; n=181; CLEAR CARE Cleaning & Disinfecting Solution used for cleaning and disinfection; Alcon data on file, 2023.
4. In a clinical study wherein patients (n=66) used AOSEPT solution for nightly cleaning, disinfecting, and storing; Alcon data on file, 2021.
5. In a survey of 500 eye care practitioners and 500 contact lens wearers in the US; Alcon data on file, 2023.

For indications, contraindications and warnings, please refer to the instructions for use of the relevant product.

Contact lenses are medical devices.

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