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Wanamaker Named Amati USA President & COO

Amati USA has announced that industry veteran Jay Wanamaker has been named president & COO. Wanamaker will oversee all Amati U.S. operations, including Amati Woodwind & Brass Instruments and V.F. Cerveny Brass Instruments, as well as overseeing the Strunal String Instrument brand. “Jay’s vast experience in running world-class MI wholesale and retail companies, as well as his history as a highly revered music educator, makes him the perfect person to lead our U.S. operations,” comments Vaclav Hnilicka, Amati CEO.

Micah Eberman Named VP of Brand Engagement at Zoom North America

Zoom North America has named Micah Eberman as its new Vice President of Brand Engagement. Eberman, previously an agency strategist and creative director for the company, will lead Zoom’s marketing efforts. Eberman has over 16 years of experience at agencies such as R/GA and Zoom’s lead agency, GS Design. He has developed multi-channel campaigns for brands such as Verizon/Verizon Wireless, Sony Playstation, MillerCoors, and Harley-Davidson.

Orange Amplification Promotes Gunter to Sales Director

Orange Amplification has promoted Antony Gunter to sales director with immediate effect.  This new role includes global sales responsibilities and day-to-day management of UK and USA sales teams.

Antony joined Orange Amplification in June 2004 as UK sales manager. In the last ten years he has seen his role change and expand from European sales manager to International sales manager and now sales director. During this period he has played a significant part in the massive growth in international sales that has earned Orange Amplification three Queens Awards for Enterprise: International Trade in six years.

Shure Welcomes Valley and Desalernos to Sales Team

Shure Incorporated has hired two new associates to the sales team of the Company’s Americas Business Unit. Tim Valley has been named regional sales manager for the Pro Systems Group for the Western U.S. and Christos Desalernos has been named senior regional sales manager for the Retail Group for the Western U.S.

Tim Valley joins Shure from Anew CT, where he served as Executive Vice President for the last eight years and as a Sales Director for two years before that. He has also worked as an Account Executive at Boxlight Corporation and an Audio Engineer at Fastrax. Tim has a degree from the Art Institute of Seattle and is a member of InfoComm and NSCA. As a Regional Sales Manager for the Pro Systems Group, he will manage the installed AV, conferencing, and broadcast customers in the Western U.S.

Korg’s Bright Retires After Thirty Years

Korg USA Inc. congratulates Charlie Bright on his retirement from its Research and Development Division after thirty years of service. For the past twenty years, Bright has served as vice president and general manager of the Korg USA Research and Development Division at its facility in Milpitas, California, where he contributed to some of Korg’s most well-known products such as the M1, T-Series, and the Wavestation.

Four Senior Executive Promotions at Shure

Shure Incorporated has announced the promotions of four senior executives: Ray Crawford, Mark Humrichouser, Meg Madison, and Tom Kundmann.

“As our Company has grown, we needed to ensure the strength of our senior leadership team,” said Sandy LaMantia, president and CEO of Shure Incorporated. “These promotions are well earned. The decades of experience these four individuals possess will help guide our organization and position us for continued long-term success.”

GC Welcomes New Executives

Guitar Center has announced the arrival of two new executives to the company leadership team. Ron Japinga will join the executive leadership team as the new executive vice president of Inventory Management and Supply Chain. Japinga joins the Guitar Center organization after an eight-year career at West Marine, where he was executive vice president of Merchandising, Planning and Logistics. Prior to that, Ron was a VP-level executive with Kohl’s Department Stores. Joining Ron as part of the team is Susan Starnes, the new vice president of Services. Starnes joins Guitar Center after a 10-year career history with Lowe’s, where she was responsible for Repair Services, Sales and Development. Prior to her work with Lowe’s, Susan was a top consultant with Bain Capital in Boston.

Fishman Expands Sales Force

Because of growth spurred by products such as the new Fluence™ pickups and TriplePlay® Wireless Guitar Controller, Fishman has added John Polino and Gary Lopez to its sales force.

A guitarist and vocalist, Polino is a 23-year veteran of the Boston music scene and comes to Fishman from First Act Inc., where he spent the last six years as a warehouse manager, sales sample coordinator, consumer relations manager and product manager.

Galaxy Audio Welcomes Pennington

Matthew Pennington brings more than 20 years of marketing and business experience to the Galaxy Audio team. For the last 13 years Matthew served as an advisor, sales and marketing leader in a financial company and has an extensive background in business services. Pennington holds Master of Business Administration from The Wichita State University.  He is also very involved in the local Wichita community.

Hal Leonard Names Nix New Shawnee Church Choral Consulting Editor

Hal Leonard Corporation and Shawnee Press have announced that Brad Nix will become the consulting editor for Shawnee church choral publications. He will facilitate the editorial process for new sacred releases and assist in the production and promotion of the Shawnee catalog of brands.

GC Names Hinz VP of Brand Experience and Entertainment Marketing

Guitar Center, Inc. (GCI) has promoted Dustin Hinz to vice president of brand experience and entertainment marketing.

Harman Professional Names Tarkiainen Vice President, Global Marketing

Harman Professional has appointed Erik Tarkiainen as vice president of Global Marketing and in doing so signaled its intent to advance its branding and communications with stronger understanding and engagement among partners and customers worldwide.