People

D’Addario Names Navarro Percussion Junior Product Specialist

D’Addario has appointed Elijah Navarro to the newly created position of percussion junior product specialist. 

In this new role, Navarro will support all product activities for the percussion brands, including Evans, Promark, Puresound, and Real Feel. He will work with the percussion product specialists and the product manager to execute tactics supporting the strategic plans for each brand. 



Ashly Audio Appoints Van Der Logt as New Sales Manager

Spurred by growing demand in foreign markets, Ashly Audio has appointed industry veteran Mike van der Logt of 4M4You, to serve as its sales manager for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). Van der Logt has over 25 years of experience in the industry providing product and relationship advice to pro audio manufacturers. Based in the Netherlands, he is well-suited to serve EMEA customers. On behalf of Ashly, van der Logt will travel the region to strengthen and expand business with existing distributors, and develop new relationships to sustain and build sales momentum.

Music Group Names Mitchell VP

The Music Group recently announced the appointment of Barry Mitchell as the new VP of customer management, Prosumer Division for the Americas. Barry will be responsible for propelling the Music Group’s groundbreaking prosumer products to the position of market leader by leveraging his extensive market knowledge, along with sales and customer support resources.

New Appointments at Harman Professional

Harman Professional has appointed Noel Larson to the role of director of marketing for its Signal Processing Business Unit. In this role Larson will be responsible for marketing and product roadmaps for the BSS Audio, dbx, Lexicon and DigiTech brands. He will report to TJ Smith, senior director, Harman Signal Processing Business Unit.

Most recently, Larson served as market manager, Portable PA, Tour, and Recording for HARMAN Signal Processing. In this role he managed product development, market strategy and social media for the dbx and Lexicon brands. He also previously held the position of director of business development for Musician’s Friend, a major online retailer and subsidiary of Guitar Center.

St. Louis Music Gains Two New VPs

St. Louis Music has appointed Craig Denny and Patrick Stevenson to new positions in the company.  Patrick Stevenson will become senior vice president of sales, while Craig Denny will take the position of vice president of band.

“It is with great excitement that I am able to announce these promotions,” says SLM CEO Mark Ragin.  “Patrick will be managing our inside and outside sales team, as well as the major national accounts, and Craig will be responsible for all aspects of the band division.”

Fishman Appoints Wilson as International Sales Manager

Fishman has appointed Iain Wilson as international sales manager.

In this capacity, Wilson’s primary role will be the development of strategies to increase sales in each of Fishman’s current export markets while seeking new business opportunities for the company.

Iain will also be managing the existing distribution network, carrying out a SWOT analysis of the distribution companies and their respective markets, and looking at constructive and effective ways to increase sales in each region.

Kloc Named President and CEO of Buffet Group USA

Buffet Group has appointed François Kloc as president and CEO of Buffet Group USA. Kloc has served as Vice President of Buffet Group USA since January 2011 and has been in the North American market since 1995, previously serving as director of sales and marketing and woodwind product specialist. In addition to the duties and responsibilities associated with being president and CEO, Kloc will also serve on the COMEX, the Executive Committee for Buffet Group.

Sweetwater Fills Two Key Management Positions

Sweetwater recently hired two new high-level employees, sales manager Doug Hills, and category manager for guitars Jay Piccirillo.

A native of Northern California, Doug Hills started with Guitar Center’s store operations team in Seattle in 1999. Over the next 14 years he held numerous jobs including sales person, sales manager of multiple locations, operations manager, store manager of multiple locations, district manager of the Northwest, and for the last five years district manager of New York and Connecticut, including Guitar’s Center’s flagship Manhattan store.

Jupiter Appoints Richardson Woodwind Brand Manager

Jupiter Band instruments has announced the addition of John Richardson to their brand management team as their woodwind brand manager starting in mid-February

Richardson comes to KHS America from Miles Ahead Music in Kentucky where he helped grow a small specialty storefront business into a two location school music retailer. His prior experience in the musical instrument industry was at Don Wilson Music in Lexington, KY. 

D’Addario Names Medici Business Development Specialist

D’Addario has appointed Brandon Medici to the newly created position of D’Addario business development specialist.  In his new role, Medici is responsible for leading B2B training for sales and product specialists of D’Addario Fretted and Planet Waves products with domestic and international distributors and dealers.

Yamaha Promotes Three to Strengthen Marketing and Product Development

Yamaha Corporation of America (YCA) today announced three promotions. Athan Billias is the director of strategic product planning, a new corporate-wide position. Dave Jewell is the marketing communications manager in the Customer Sales & Marketing Group, also a new company-wide position. Nate Tschetter is named marketing manager, Music Production, Pro Audio & Combo Division.

“With the creation of two new roles and the addition of Nate to our Music Production department, we are able to take better advantage of each employee’s abilities to better serve our dealers and customers,” said Tom Sumner, senior vice president, Yamaha Corporation of America. “These changes will enhance our ability to keep developing innovative products and market them effectively.”  

Conn Selmer Names O’Neal Ludwig Category Manager

Conn Selmer recently added Timothy O'Neal to the Ludwig Marketing team in the position of category manager (Combo), effective immediately. O'Neal will be responsible for the planning, development and implementation of combo product marketing strategies. In addition he will lead and develop marketing materials, training, and merchandising closely working with internal sales team and dealers. Tim will also manage the world class global artist roster and endorsements.