Our team

A strong team stands behind our products and professional services. For innovation and top performance go hand in hand.

M’hamed Bouhlal

Managing Director
Executive Board member

M’hamed Bouhlal

Managing Director
Executive Board member

M’hamed is in charge of operational management of the company, also overseeing global marketing and expansion – he is a co-founder of Appenzeller Kontaktlinsen. Perfection is key: He also wears the hat of Head of Quality Management, controlling the quality of what the company produces. In addition, he is responsible for customer care and acquisition, and for organising of trade fair activities.

Bernd Brückner

Head of Professional Service
Executive Board member

Bernd Brückner

Head of Professional Service
Executive Board member

As Head of Professional Service, Bernd maintains contact with customers and is responsible for advising opticians and ophthalmologists. An optometrist holding an M.Sc. in Vision Science, he is a co-founder of the company and involved in the scientific end, drives forward product research while also overseeing our offerings of seminars and product training.

Markus Hofmann

CFO
Executive Board member

Markus Hofmann

CFO
Executive Board member

As Head of Finance and Accounting, Markus knows his numbers and watches the bottom line, specialising in trusteeship and accounting. His skills help us keep the company constantly expanding, growing our success. He additionally oversees social benefits and payroll accounting.

Xenia Bieche

Professional Service
dipl. Augenoptikerin (certified optician)

Xenia Bieche

Professional Service
dipl. Augenoptikerin (certified optician)

Listen, ask, advise. These are the strengths of our Professional Service team, of whom certified optician Xenia Bieche is a member. Having run her own business, she knows from experience that quality and price have to be right. She will be happy to help you find the ideal solution you are looking for.

Lisa Kieler

Professional Service
Optometrist

Lisa Kieler

Professional Service
Optometrist

Lisa Kieler supports our Professional Service while she studies optometry at the Ernst-Abbe-Hochschule in Jena. She is already a state-certified optician and master optician (HWK). Lisa Kieler shares with you her fitting sequence from her several years of clinical experience, so that you too can provide your customers with the best possible Appenzeller contact lenses

Kim Kochanec

Professional Service
Optometrist

Kim Kochanec

Professional Service
Optometrist

In Kim’s family, glasses are part of the basic equipment: «We all have one. I also had one from a young age to correct my hyperopia.» But she didn’t just wear her glasses, she wanted to know how they worked. That interest carried through adulthood and eventually led her to study optometry. «That’s when I first became intensively involved with contact lenses – and they wouldn’t let me go.»

Alexander KriEse

Professional Service
Optometrist

Alexander KriEse

Professional Service
Optometrist

With Alexander Kriese, a real «wealth of experience» has joined the «Professional Service». The optometrist and optician has been working with contact lenses for over 20 years. «When I'm asked what I do, I always say that I'm a vision specialist.» With this extensive knowledge and his open, humorous manner, he has been part of our team since February 2024 – and is on hand to provide you with wit and advice.

Amélie Sierra

Professional Service
Optometrist

Amélie Sierra

Professional Service
Optometrist

Amélie completes the French team of our company to guide you and to answer your questions with kindness and technical expertise.
With a Master's degree in Vision Sciences and many years of experience in the optical industry, whether in technical, commercial, managerial or educational fields, Amélie will put her skills to good use to help you make the best possible, personalized choice of contact lenses.

Nadège Mérau

Account Manager
Optometrist

Nadège Mérau

Account Manager
Optometrist

Nadège has finished a Master 2 in Vision Science at Paris University. She doesn't only own a large expertise in the area of optics, but also has knowledge in technical and commercial fields. The perfect contact person for product selection and customization.

Christelle Debrand

Fitting adviser
France

Christelle Debrand

Fitting adviser
France

Holding a master’s degree in Vision Sciences, Christelle provides individual advice with expertise and charm to fitting professionals from French-speaking Europe. Good vision means quality of life, which customers in France will get to enjoy through custom lenses made by Appenzeller Kontaktlinsen and professional fitting, supported by Christelle.

Karolina Keller

Administration
Headquarters in Speicher

Karolina Keller

Administration
Headquarters in Speicher

It was love at first sight. At 16, she worked with contact lenses for the first time and it was immediately clear to her: this is her passion. Maximum precision is essential for perfect contactlenses. She keeps a close eye on whether we achieve this. To stay with the platitudes: she is our good conscience. And your contact person for administrative, logistical and return matters.

Paul Jaros

Head of IT Support
and Programming

Paul Jaros

Head of IT Support
and Programming

Whenever there's a problem in IT, he's there. The business IT specialist not only solves urgent problems, but also devotes himself to software development tasks. Always with the goal of designing programs to make processes even easier for customers and employees.

Appenzeller Bläss


Not so very long ago…

Appenzeller Bläss


Not so very long ago…

…«the Bläss», as the Appenzell dog is called in Appenzellerland, could be found in every «Hämetli» (home or farm), just like cows, sheep and goats. The Bläss was indispensable for rounding them all up. The only downside was that this work was done so quickly that the dog was bored for the rest of the day. So, to pass the time, he started another hunting career, so to speak, and lay in wait for passing hikers. As the occasional hiker was bitten in the calves, the Bläss was banned from more and more Hämetli. This is why the Bläss is now almost extinct as a purebreed dog.

Katja Börner

Account Manager
Germany North/East

Katja Börner

Account Manager
Germany North/East

Our account manager in Northern Germany is a state-certified optician (HWK) and master optician (HWK) who loves talking with clients as a fellow industry professional. So she enjoys going out to visit our clients. Best get in touch with her right away! By e-mail or phone.

Claudia Marie Kobbert

Account Manager
Central Germany territory

Claudia Marie Kobbert

Account Manager
Central Germany territory

Claudia Marie is the contact person for our clients located in Central Germany. A state-certified optician (HWK) and master optician (HWK), she loves communicating with people – particularly about contact lenses. By all means get in touch for a good talk about your customers’ needs.

Selina Bentele

Account Manager
Germany South

Selina Bentele

Account Manager
Germany South

The optician is the contact person for the South of Germany and has a wealth of experience with contact lenses. Her expertise: Is to enable children and adults to optimise sight to the highest level through Appenzeller contact lenses. Interested, or in need of consultation? Selina, is prepared and is waiting for your call or email.

Pascal Forrer

Account Manager
Switzerland

Pascal Forrer

Account Manager
Switzerland

As a master optician with experience in ophthalmology, Pascal Forrer contributes a great degree of expertise and passion. From his central office in Winterthur, he will attend to and visit you personally - whenever possible in an environment-friendly way via train. In addition to advice, he also provides hands-on support in fitting contact lenses and answers questions regarding medical matters.

Philipp Stoiber

Account representative
Austria

Philipp Stoiber

Account representative
Austria

Our reliable account representative in Austria has many years of experience in optics and the contact lens industry. Philipp’s expert knowledge of the product range enables him to provide opticians and ophthalmologists with competent advice targeted to their needs. He’s the right guy to talk to if you want to find out more about the latest products and deliverability.

Zakiya Bejaoui

Sales Manager
France

Zakiya Bejaoui

Sales Manager
France

Zakiya works with our clients in France, who benefit from her many years of experience as a contact lens adviser. Skilled in listening to client needs, she will be pleased to advise you on our range of custom-made contact lenses. Her goal is to find the individual solution right for you, aware that every pair of eyes is unique.

Professional Service

Competent one-on-one advice.

Registration as authorized dealer of APPENZELLER CONTACT LENSES:

I am an optometrist/Ophthalmologist and would like to add products from Appenzeller Kontaktlinsen AG to my product range and be listed with you as an authorized dealer. Please contact me.