Strategy in TECH...
Sonos, Inc. [Nasdaq: SONO] announced today that its Board of Directors has decided to appoint Tom Conrad – current Interim CEO – as the new official Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Conrad, who was a member of the Board of Directors when it chose to dismiss previous CEO Patrick Spence, was named as the Interim CEO back in January.
On Thursday, Premium Audio Company (PAC), a division of Voxx, which itself is now part of Gentex Corp., today formally acknowledged what has long been rumored: that it has lost its licensing deal with Pioneer Corporation for the rights to the Pioneer and Elite brands. The announcement portrays the decision as a “mutual” one that concludes “a successful multi-year collaboration.”
A new survey of U.S. companies by KPMG reports that they are already feeling the pain of the Administration’s new tariff program, which is still under negotiation with countries around the world. Even at current levels, U.S. businesses have been impacted, reporting they are experiencing declining gross margins…will be forced to further raise prices…are already being impacted by consumer pushback…have suffered sales declines from retaliatory tariff increases in other countries, and more.
Overall, it’s a pretty sobering look at the impact of tariffs on companies now, and a scary foretelling of what they anticipate in a darkened future.
On Tuesday, Harman Luxury Audio Group, a division of Harman International focused on high-end audio products, announced that it has appointed manufacturer representative firm Progressive Custom Integration as the company’s representative of record in seven different geographic territories across the U.S. The announcement, which was released retroactively, said that this appointment took effect on July 1, 2025.
Josh.ai (Josh) expands its market presence by partnering with Southern California-based manufacturer representative firm Unified Representatives. Josh calls Unified Representatives “a premier manufacturers’ rep firm” who will support what it says is its “rapidly growing dealer base” in Southern California.
AVPro Edge, part of the AVPro Global group of companies, announced this week that it has expanded its commercial channel distribution in the GCC region, part of the Middle East, by partnering with Keyston Distribution Fzco. This move, which the company calls a “strategic step,” will help further extend its presence in this major world region.
One of the remarkable stories to emerge from the demise of high-end loudspeaker brand THIEL Audio, which went out of business in 2018, was the phoenix-like rising of THIEL Service from the ashes of the bankrupt company. Long-time head of service Rob Gillum, sensing the continuing needs of a significant installed base of THIEL owners, purchased service-connected assets out of the bankrupt company and launched the independent Coherent Source Service (CSS), a full-fledged repair center dedicated to servicing the ongoing needs of THIEL legacy model owners everywhere.
Now, in the wake of Rob Gillum’s recent retirement, CSS has been acquired by Gary Dayton, another long-time THIEL service executive (trained by Gillum), who seeks to carry on the mantle of offering THIEL owners ongoing exceptional service of THIEL legacy products.
In a new Form-8K filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Thursday, Masimo Corporation (Nasdaq: MASI) revealed several new executive changes, with both new additions and at least one prominent departure. The new additions, include a new Chief Marketing & Strategy Officer, Chief Human Resources Officer, and a new head of the company’s Japan & Asia Pacific business.
Notably, departing the company is Bilal Muhsin, the company’s Chief Operating Officer and once trusted confidante of former CEO Joe Kiani, who has informed the company that he is resigning his position “to pursue other opportunities,” effective July 1, 2025.
In what has been one of the longest-running patent infringement cases I have ever reported on, GeigTech East Bay LLC vs. Lutron Electronics Co. Inc. finally wrapped up last week in the United States District Court in the Southern District of New York before the Honorable Judge Colleen McMahon who delivered a blistering Final Decision and Order full of fire and brimstone…for both parties. Know that as you read this report, you are reading about a case originally filed on June 12, 2018…that’s right, seven years ago!
Says Judge McMahon: “After two trials and many opinions over the past seven years, the Court assumed familiarity with the facts and major players involved in this case.” And you know what they say about familiarity – familiarity breeds contempt!
We got a blockbuster announcement late this afternoon as AVPro Global announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Remote Technologies Incorporated (RTI), a well-known control and automation solutions provider for residential and commercial markets. AVPro Global is the parent company of AVPro Edge, AudioControl Pro, Bullet Train, Murideo, and ThenAudio and is an industry-leading provider of AV signal distribution solutions in the residential and commercial integration spaces.
With the addition of RTI, the company makes a bold move into the control and automation space and ties together its expanding universe of sector-specific brands.
