Strategy in TECH...
What the Future Holds for the CEDIA Show“Do I need to ‘prepare’ for anything?” Emerald Expositions Marketing Manager Brianna Morris asked us in a firm tone as we met to set up a date for an interview. “Prepare?,” we asked. “Yes…we’re read your stuff,” she said in a deeper tone.
I could tell right then, it was going to be an interesting interview.
Josh.ai, the high-end voice control solution that created quite a buzz at last year’s CEDIA show, announced today that it is launching its first hardware product, Josh Micro. Josh Micro includes a home control processor, far-field microphone array, and a superior user interface in a small package that “fits in the palm of your hand.” It also disconnects Josh.ai from the need to talk into your smartphone…or to a nearby Amazon Echo.
Moody’s Investors Service, one of the largest credit rating services in the world, has downgraded the credit rating for Gibson Brands, the Nashville-based parent of Gibson Guitar, Onkyo, Teac, KRK, Philips, Stanton and more. Moody’s has set their rating on Gibson Brands debt to Caa3, down one step from Caa2.
The move caused Wall Street investment analyst The Street to raise the specter of the possibility of Gibson Brands defaulting on their debt.
You practically need a scorecard to keep track of the revolving group of Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) that have come and gone from Nashville-based Thiel Audio. The specialty speaker company has had five CEOs in four years – leading to an unending series of disjointed actions from a disconnected group of high-powered executives, each with their own vision of where to take the company.
Control and home automation manufacturer RTI announced this week that former employee Clint Forberg is returning to the company as its Central U.S. Regional Business Manager. Earlier in his career, Forberg did a nine year stint at RTI as Director of Training and Eastern U.S. Sales Manager.
CEDIA announced today that like last year, Amazon will offer a sponsored keynote presentation at the upcoming CEDIA 2017 show in San Diego. The Amazon keynote will take place on Thursday, September 7, from 2:00PM – 3:00PM in the San Diego Convention Center Ballroom 20A.
Lenbrook International announced this week a major transition in their management team in what it said was a carefully thought-out “succession plan.” Lenbrook, parent company to the Bluesound, NAD, and PSB brands, will restructure their senior management team in the wake of a form of retirement of two of its most prominent leaders – Lenbrook Americas President & CEO Dean Miller; and Chief Brand Officer John Banks. It is not an overstatement to call this the end of one era and the beginning of a new one.
Dana Innovations announced this morning that it has appointed two new regional sales managers – Marc Schnoll and Dan Dusek. Both Schnoll and Dusek come to Dana Innovations from Bowers & Wilkins.
Multiple sources have confirmed to us that several B&W regional managers have resigned from their positions with the company this week. In a move that one source indicated has been coming since the moment the company terminated President Doug Henderson, the regional managers all turned in their voluntary resignations in the same week.
Chicago, IL-based Allnet Distributing announced recently that it is opening an all-new location in Minneapolis, MN in September. It is the fourth warehouse location, as the custom integration-focused distributor continues to expand its reach throughout the Midwest geographic region.
