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Thiel Audio: DeFuria & Brown are Out; Is the Other Shoe Dropping?

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BREAKING NEWS

Photo of Thiel Factory

Our inquiry started innocently enough. Last week, we received an emailed press release that contained this headline: “VANA Ltd. Appoints Stephen DeFuria as Director of Sales, East.” Now we generally receive dozens of press releases every day – but this one caught our immediate attention…literally causing us to pick the phone to make a call for confirmation. Why? Because Stephen DeFuria was part of a team hired by Thiel Audio to help turn that business around – and now, only one year later, he is out…with no explanation. But that was just the beginning.

Now, there’s reason to question whether the “other shoe” may be dropping at Thiel… [Read more…] about Thiel Audio: DeFuria & Brown are Out; Is the Other Shoe Dropping?

Kathy Gornik: Why I Sold Thiel…

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*Strata-gee.com EXCLUSIVE*

Photo of Kathy GornikMuch has been written on the changes at Lexington, KY-based Thiel Audio Products Company (Thiel) in the wake of its purchase by a group of Tennessee investors that we first reported last November. Shortly after their acquisition, strata-gee.com was invited to speak with Bill Thomas – one of those Tennessee investors and now the new CEO of Thiel Audio. And a couple of months after that, we had the opportunity to speak with new Thiel interim COO and Board member Bob Brown.

But many Thiel-related reps and dealers kept asking us about co-founder and former President Kathy Gornik. Some of this curiosity was related to rumors that Gornik had been forcibly removed from the respected high-end loudspeaker company that she helped found. And some of the interest centered around an unanswered question, not covered by any of the press (including Strata-gee.com) as to why Gornik decided to sell the company.

Now, Gornik has granted Strata-gee.com an exclusive interview…to tell her side of the story… [Read more…] about Kathy Gornik: Why I Sold Thiel…

Former Thiel Co-Founder Joins Magnet Supplier

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Quadrant Solutions logoQuadrant Solutions, a supplier of magnets and magnetic assemblies announced today that Kathy Gornik, former co-founder of high-end loudspeaker manufacturer Thiel Audio, has joined the company in a new business development role. Gornik’s appointment is effective immediately.

See more on this announcement, including the status of fellow ex-Thiel employee Dawn Cloyd… [Read more…] about Former Thiel Co-Founder Joins Magnet Supplier

Thiel Audio’s Bob Brown Sees ‘Lots of Opportunity’

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THIEL Audio LogoAlthough things often move slowly in the world of high end audio – models stay in the line for years, product testing goes on for months, policies are practically carved in stone – upscale loudspeaker manufacturer Thiel Audio is undergoing an incredibly rapid series of changes in the wake of its purchase last November by a group of Tennessee-based investors. Their latest addition, the well-known industry personality Bob Brown as a Board member and Interim COO, generously granted strata-GEE.com an interview to discuss in detail just where Thiel is at – and where it’s going.

See what Brown told us about how he came to join the company, and where Thiel is going… [Read more…] about Thiel Audio’s Bob Brown Sees ‘Lots of Opportunity’

Bob Brown Joins Thiel as Interim COO and Board Member

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Photo of Bob BrownIndustry veteran Bob Brown, known to many from his long tenure as President at Lenbrook America, has joined Thiel Audio as a member of their board of directors. Brown will also, effective immediately, begin serving as the company’s interim Chief Operating Officer (COO).

Thiel, as we recently reported, is in the middle of an exciting revival as the result of its recent purchase by a consortium of Tennessee investors led by current CEO Bill Thomas.

See more on this interesting new development for Thiel… [Read more…] about Bob Brown Joins Thiel as Interim COO and Board Member

New THIEL CEO Tells Us THIEL’s the Real Deal

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Photo of Thiel Factory“It’s really not that fancy,” new Thiel CEO Bill Thomas told us with a chuckle and a noticeable Southern drawl when we asked about his private equity company that was mentioned in a Thiel press release announcing its acquisition last week. [See our post on the acquisition here…] In a telephone interview with strata-GEE.com earlier this week, the 55-year old Thomas said it was simply he and two friends that came together to purchase Thiel Audio Products Company – not some high-powered M&A company.

This was just one of several surprises the CEO shared with us about the acquisition… [Read more…] about New THIEL CEO Tells Us THIEL’s the Real Deal

Thiel Audio Products Acquired by Tennessee Private Equity Company

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BREAKING NEWS

Thiel logoStrata-gee.com learned from sources early today that Thiel Audio Products was sold last week to a Nashville, TN-based private equity company. Late today, the company distributed a formal press release confirming what we have heard. Kathy Gornik, CEO and President of the company is said to be leaving effective immediately and the release refers to “New Thiel CEO Bill Thomas.” [Read more…] about Thiel Audio Products Acquired by Tennessee Private Equity Company

THIEL Audio Appoints Scowcroft Associates as Rocky Mountain Reps

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THIEL Audio LogoTHIEL Audio announced today that it has appointed Scowcroft Associates as its sales representative for the Rocky Mountain territory effective immediately. Well-known and respected in the territory, Scowcroft Associates is also very experienced in the sales of mid- to high-end product lines.

[Read more…] about THIEL Audio Appoints Scowcroft Associates as Rocky Mountain Reps

Thiel Audio Names New Independent Reps in California

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<February 29, 2012> Thiel Audio Products Company announced this past Monday that itTHIEL Logo has appointed two new independent sales representative firms in the state of California – one for Northern California and another for Southern California. Both are well known with strong credentials for servicing the specialty and custom integration channels. [Read more…] about Thiel Audio Names New Independent Reps in California

McIntosh Group Acquired by Bose; Does This Deal Make Any Sense?

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Image from Bose website
Bose website

On Tuesday, Bose Corporation – a privately held manufacturer and marketer of a variety of predominantly audio products like headphones, speakers, soundbars and car audio – announced it has acquired McIntosh Group, a high-end manufacturer of electronics under the McIntosh brand and speakers/phono cartridges under the Sonus faber brand. Terms of the deal were not revealed and a buzz has descended around the industry as to whether this is a good thing or a bad thing.

Learn more about Bose acquiring McIntosh

[Read more…] about McIntosh Group Acquired by Bose; Does This Deal Make Any Sense?