ROLI signs Bang & Olufsen exec

Henrik Lorensen, a senior executive at Bang & Olufsen, has joined ROLI as Chief Operating Officer, further strengthening the London-based music creation start-up’s leadership.

ROLI has expanded rapidly since 2015, when it introduced the Seaboard RISE. An evolution of the piano keyboard, which remodels it as a soft, touch-responsive silicone surface that lets musicians shape sound through pressure and other natural movements. Stevie Wonder, Hans Zimmer, and Meghan Trainor are among the musicians who have enthused about the Seaboard RISE.

Since 2011 Lorensen has led B&O PLAY, a division of Bang & Olufsen that has propelled recent growth at the storied maker of high-end music systems. B&O PLAY introduced a range of premium speakers and headphones that are accessibly priced and designed for people who want to take their music devices anywhere. B&O PLAY has extended world-class sound quality and design — the hallmark of Bang & Olufsen — to a broad range of consumers.

Roland Lamb, founder and CEO of ROLI, said: “I’m delighted to welcome Henrik to the ROLI team. He has led a global music brand that is custom-made for our digitally connected world. His experience will be hugely valuable as we expand our Connected Music ecosystem and provide a new experience to anyone who loves music.”

In May ROLI raised $27 million in a Series B investment led by US-based Foundry Group. In September the company acquired FXpansion, a developer of audio software and virtual instruments.

Lorensen said: “I’m tremendously excited to be joining ROLI, whose products and plans are defining the future of music creation. The way we make music is shifting, and ROLI is at the forefront of creating a new category of music-making devices and experiences that will empower millions of people to become music creators themselves.”