Stephen is pictured with store partners (from left) Gerard O’Mullan, Fiona Lynch and Andrew Lowry.
SPECSAVERS Ballymena has announced a new retail director with Stephen Lynn stepping up into the role.
Stephen has been a local expert at the store for over 20 years, beginning as an optical assistant back in 2004, before becoming a dispensing optician in 2010 and progressing to store manager in 2022.
After completing Specsavers’ Pathway programme in 2024, Stephen officially became part of the leadership team alongside store partners Gerard O’Mullan, Fiona Lynch and Andrew Lowry.
As part of his new role, Stephen will oversee all aspects of store operations, ensuring customers continue to receive high-quality optical and audiology services. Working with the store partners, Stephen will also focus on business growth, staff development and training and maintaining the store’s reputation as a trusted provider of accessible healthcare in the community.
The news comes after a £100,000 refit of the store completed last year, which was also the 30th year of business for the opticians which has been operating from Fairhill Shopping Centre since 1994.
Stephen Lynn joins Gerard O’Mullan, Fiona Lynch and Andrew Lowry as a local store partner.
Speaking of his new role, Stephen commented:
“It has been an honour to join the leadership team at Specsavers Ballymena, where I have been committed to providing expert care to our local customers for over 20 years. I am grateful to pick up the reins from Jacqueline Douglas who recently retired and who had been part of the team since opening in the ‘90s, and a store partner from 2018.
“We have a passionate and engaged team of 31 experts here in-store, alongside wonderful customers, many of whom I have got to know personally over the past 20 years as they trust us with their own eye and hearing care, alongside their families.”
Specsavers Pathway programme identifies, nurtures and recruits Specsavers’ talent to become future joint venture partners, helping them gain the skills and knowledge they need to run their own store.
Stephen continued:
“My own career is the perfect example of Specsavers’ unrivalled progression opportunities.
“The partners at this store have continued to invest in me and my colleagues’ careers to bring even more expertise and qualifications to the business, meaning we can offer our customers even more from their appointments with us.”
In recent months, three new recruits have joined the team of experts, bringing an additional new optometrist and two optical assistants to the team.