Orbis welcomes Mr. John P. Howitt as new Chair of Board

Mr. Howitt is a partner in Clifford Chance's US Finance & Restructuring Group and Co-Head of its US Asset Finance Practice. He focuses on aircraft finance and also has considerable experience in bank and private placement credit transactions. Mr. Howitt is also recognized as a leading lawyer in aviation and equipment finance. He received his BA degree in 1975 from the University of California at Los Angeles, where he also received his JD degree three years later.

We would also like to take a moment to thank Mr. Kevin McAllister, former Chair of the Board who is transitioning to the role of Chair Emeritus. Mr. McAllister was Chair of the Board for more than seven years and a member of the Board for nearly a decade, during which time he helped oversee the launch of the MD-10 Flying Eye Hospital, expansion of our award-winning telemedicine platform, Cybersight, and steer the organization through a global pandemic.

We would also like to congratulate two new members of the Board, Mr. James Knight and Dr. Malik Y. Kahook, MD.

Mr. James Knight provides comprehensive wealth management guidance for high-net-worth individuals, family offices, and institutions, specializing in equity sales and portfolio management. Before joining Alex Brown (now a division of Raymond James), Mr. Knight worked at Banc of America Securities. He earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and fine arts from St. Lawrence University, and an MBA from Fordham University.

He has served as President of the Staunton Farm Foundation in Pittsburgh, PA, and is on the Board of Portsmouth Abbey School in Portsmouth, RI.

He is currently Vice President of the Round Hill Club in Greenwich, CT.

Dr. Malik Y. Kahook, MD, is Professor of Ophthalmology and The Slater Family Endowed Chair in Ophthalmology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. He is Vice Chair of Translational Research and serves as chief of the glaucoma service and co-director of the glaucoma fellowship at the Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center.

Dr. Kahook has authored over 400 peer-reviewed manuscripts, abstracts, and book chapters, and is editor of Essentials of Glaucoma Surgery, and Chandler and Grant’s Glaucoma. He was named to the top- ten list of The Ophthalmologist’s Power 100 List in 2020. Dr. Kahook serves as Chair of Orbis International’s Medical Advisory Committee and is a consultant to the Food and Drug Administration’s Ophthalmic Device Division.

Director Emeritus, Mr. John S. Slattery, will also be returning as a Board member. Mr. Slattery is Executive Vice President & Chief Commercial Officer, GE Aerospace, the world’s leading provider of jet and turboprop engines and aircraft systems. Prior to joining GE, John served as President & CEO of Embraer Commercial Aviation. Before Embraer, John spent fifteen years in various executive roles at leading commercial aerospace advisory, leasing, and banking organizations.

The warmest thank you again to Mr. McAllister for serving on the Orbis Board for so many years. Your efforts are appreciated around the world.

And a big thank you to our new Chair and Board members for their time and dedication. With you, our vision to transform lives through the prevention and treatment of blindness is in good hands.