Audio-Technica Announces Retirement of Phil Cajka, A-T U.S. President/CEO, and Company Succession Plan

Phil Cajka

Audio-Technica announces that Audio-Technica U.S. President/CEO Phil Cajka will retire March 31, 2021, after being with the organization since 1981. Cajka, who has led A-T U.S. since his appointment as President/CEO in 1996, has continually advanced Audio-Technica’s position in the industry with unprecedented growth, launched groundbreaking products, increased A-T’s dealer network, led the company to expand into new markets and guided the company’s participation in numerous high-profile industry events.

Effective August 1, 2020, Manabu Aoki, who currently holds the position of Audio-Technica Corp. Japan General Manager, International Division, became the new A-T U.S. Chief Executive Officer. Cajka, who over the years has had a close working relationship with Aoki, will remain as President until his retirement, to help ensure a smooth leadership transition. Prior to joining Audio-Technica, Aoki served as President of JVC Professional Europe, Ltd. and Vice President of JVC Europe, Headquartered in London, UK.

Phil Cajka joined Audio-Technica in 1981 and was appointed President and CEO in 1996, a position he has held up until today. During his tenure, Cajka saw Audio-Technica U.S. grow into a true market leader by introducing innovative market-driven products, creating initiatives to further strengthen Audio-Technica’s brand name equity and position in the industry while more than doubling the company’s size, building strong customer relations, and expanding the company’s footprint in the U.S. During this time, A-T kept its focus on technology, quality and customer relations, establishing the next level of customer service with A-T’s Audio Solutions Department, a resource for dealers and end users seeking clear technical or product advice and application assistance.

Manabu Aoki

During this period, the company introduced groundbreaking products like the AT4033 Cardioid Condenser Side-Address Microphone, AT4050 Multi-pattern Condenser Microphone, the UniPoint® line of installed-sound microphones, 5000 Series Frequency-agile True Diversity UHF Wireless Systems, AE2500 Dual-element Cardioid Instrument Microphone, QuietPoint® Wireless Active Noise-Cancelling Headphones, ATH-M50 and the complete range of A-T Professional Monitor Headphones, A-T Turntables, and more. Additionally under Cajka’s leadership, the company forged industry relationships and participated in high-profile events such as the GRAMMY® Awards, Country Music Association (CMA) Awards, Latin GRAMMY® Awards, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards, Super Bowl, the Presidential Debates, GMA Dove Awards, numerous national and international sporting events and much more. Further, Cajka served as a member of the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Board of Directors.

Exemplifying a true leader, Cajka treated everyone on the A-T U.S. team with the utmost respect, from managers whom he had worked with for years to the newest employees. This philosophy became a mindset among A-T management and staff and to this day is a major part of A-T’s company culture.

“Audio-Technica has been one of my life’s passions, and I am honored to have worked with everyone at A-T U.S. and our parent company in Japan. I am extremely proud of what Audio-Technica now stands for, and I am preparing the company for its next phase of growth,” stated Cajka. “I am very confident in our management team, and having worked with Mr. Aoki for years, I know he is the best choice to lead the company into its next chapter of success. After being with A-T for almost four decades, this is the right time for me to pass the baton and move forward to the next chapter of my life.”