The Cleveland Museum of Art Names Jeffrey Cole Honorary Trustee

CLEVELAND (August 13, 2025)—The Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Jeffrey Cole as an honorary trustee. A lifelong member of the CMA, Cole and his wife, Patricia O’Brien Cole—an accomplished jazz singer who has performed at the museum—have long supported the institution and the arts community. 

Cole is widely recognized for his transformative impact on the optical industry and his philanthropic leadership. As chairman and CEO of Cole National Company from 1983 to 2003, he built the company—founded by his father in the 1940s—into a global retail leader. Under his guidance, the company managed well-known brands such as Pearle Vision, Sears Optical, Target Optical, and Things Remembered. Cole National reached well over $1 billion in annual sales prior to its acquisition by Luxottica in 2004. 

In 1996, Cole cofounded Pearle Europe (now GrandVision) in partnership with Dutch investment firm HAL Trust. GrandVision grew into the leading optical retailer in Europe and Latin America, expanding to more than 7,500 locations across 46 countries. The company’s revenue grew from $100 million in 1997 to over $4 billion by 2020. GrandVision was acquired by EssilorLuxottica in July 2021. 

“Jeff brings exceptional leadership, global business savvy, and a deep commitment to the arts,” said William M. Griswold, the CMA’s Sarah S. and Alexander M. Cutler Director and president. “We are honored to welcome him in this new capacity.” 

Cole is a trustee of the Cole Eye Institute at the Cleveland Clinic, one of the nation's top centers for eye research and treatment. In 2025, the new 170,000-square-foot Jeffrey and Patricia Cole Pavilion was added to the Institute’s original 130,000-square-foot facility, significantly expanding its capabilities and reach. 

From 2010 to 2024, Cole served on the board of directors of Safilo, a global eyewear manufacturer headquartered in Padova, Italy. With sales of well over $1 billion across more than 100 countries, Safilo’s brands include Carrera, Polaroid, Smith, Boss, Blenders, Kate Spade, and David Beckham. 

In 2014, Cole partnered with Blue Point Capital, a Cleveland-based private equity firm, to acquire Hilco Vision, the world’s largest optical accessories company. He served on Hilco’s board and played a strategic role in its growth and profitability, culminating in the company’s sale in 2019. 

Cole has continued to innovate in the eyewear sector. In 2018, he helped restructure and revitalize REVO, the iconic American sunglasses brand, where he remains a shareholder and board member. In 2023, he again teamed up with Blue Point Capital to launch a new eyewear platform focused on acquiring nonlicensed wholesale and direct-to-consumer (DTC) eyewear brands. That year, they acquired Europa Eyewear of Chicago—known for its American-made American Optical brand—and EYEBOBS of Minneapolis, a leading DTC premium reading glasses brand. 

Over the course of his career, Cole has served on numerous corporate and nonprofit boards, including for Hartmarx Corporation, ReFac Optical, Fortunoff, Trimaran Capital, Edison Brothers, Tri-American Corporation, Victoria Financial Corporation, American Consumer Products, Professional Sports Publications, Child World and Children’s Palace, and Independent Savings Bank, among others. He played a key role in the growth and development of several of these organizations. 

In addition to his business achievements, Cole has been a trustee of the Cleveland Orchestra, a member of the National Board of the Smithsonian Associates, and chairman of the Ohio Arts Council. He is also the principal benefactor of the Jack Kerouac Writers in Residence Project in Orlando, Florida. 

A Cleveland native, Cole graduated from Harvard College and Harvard Business School. While at Harvard, he was an editor of the Harvard Lampoon and a member of the DU Club and the Hasty Pudding Institute. 

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About the Cleveland Museum of Art 

The Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA) is renowned for the quality and breadth of its collection, which includes more than 66,500 artworks and spans 6,000 years of achievement in the arts. The museum is a significant international forum for exhibitions, scholarship, and performing arts and is a leader in digital innovation. One of the foremost encyclopedic art museums in the United States, the CMA is recognized for its award-winning open access program—which provides free digital access to images and information about works in the museum’s collection—and is free of charge to all. The museum is located in the University Circle neighborhood with two satellite locations on Cleveland’s west side: the Community Arts Center and Transformer Station. 

The museum is supported in part by residents of Cuyahoga County through a public grant from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture and made possible in part by the Ohio Arts Council (OAC), which receives support from the State of Ohio and the National Endowment for the Arts. The OAC is a state agency that funds and supports quality arts experiences to strengthen Ohio communities culturally, educationally, and economically. For more information about the museum and its holdings, programs, and events, call 888-CMA-0033 or visit cma.org.