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Andrew Schmeder
BERKELEY, Calif.—Andrew Schmeder, a scientist who co-founded EnChroma and served as the company’s CEO for the past four years, is moving into a new full-time role as chief technology officer. Tony Dykes, who is also a co-founder of EnChroma and who served as CEO prior to Schmeder, is stepping in as CEO on an interim basis while the company searches for a new CEO. “I have thoroughly enjoyed my role as EnChroma CEO while also serving as lead inventor and heading product commercialization,” Schmeder told VMAIL.

Speaking about Dykes, whom he recruited in 2010, Schmeder said, “As a former EnChroma CEO and current member of our board of directors, Tony understands EnChroma, our products and market. I am confident that he will help further our success while a search is conducted for a new CEO.”

Commenting on Schmeder’s new role, Dykes said, “EnChroma needed a full-time CTO dedicated solely to pushing the innovation envelope and getting products to market. At his core, Andy is a scientist with a love for technology and innovation and wanted to be the one to focus on taking our technologies to the next level.

“We’ve come a long way at EnChroma in terms of bringing the first real eyewear backed by science to address the challenges of color blindness,” he said. “I am really excited about accelerating EnChroma’s market reach and product development into new areas and getting the company situated for new leadership.”

Over the past four years, Schmeder invented and launched the third generation of EnChroma lenses in addition to new lenses engineered for specific types of color blindness and use environments; co-branded scenic viewers adapted for the color blind; and a new series for low vision and aging eye visual impairments.

The moves by Schmeder and Dykes follow EnChroma’s appointment of vision industry veteran Mark Mattison-Shupnick as chief operating officer, which VMAIL reported on July 1. Mattison-Shupnick had previously served as EnChroma’s vice president of business development.