"This new strategic position has been created specifically to strengthen and expand the Group's systems marketing and communications programs," Augsburger said today. "As our brands continue to strengthen their individual leadership positions, we need to build systems and processes that tightly couple product and brand offerings and leverage the full breadth that Harman offers. Michael's extensive industry experience uniquely qualifies him to succeed in this new position."
MacDonald has been involved in pro audio for more than 25 years. Beginning in the 1970s, he was active providing sound systems design and production services for touring, broadcast and installed applications. He crossed over to the supplier side of the industry, joining Yamaha in 1986, where he stayed for nine years. For the last four years he served as marketing manager, developing and marketing a diverse range of professional audio products that included analogue and digital consoles, signal processing gear and loudspeakers. He joins Harman after four years with Pilot Business Strategies Inc, a consulting firm founded four years ago to serve a number of professional audio, video and security companies.
"We are going to complement our individual brand marketing efforts with a Group marketing function," says Augsburger. "Harman has a proven track record of success in individual brand marketing, and now we need to achieve the same level of success in our systems marketing efforts. Michael has the experience, talent, and critical skills required to achieve this goal. I believe that the increased communications, market contact, and system focus will result in the creation of major new opportunities that only a company with Harman's scale, scope, and talent can exploit."
MacDonald commented: "I really enjoyed working with the JBL Professional team and I now look forward to working closely with the marketing teams at each of the nine great companies that comprise the Harman Pro Group. I am honoured that Blake has chosen me to lead this important new Group marketing initiative and I am confident that we will exceed the goals that Blake has defined for the Group."
(Lee Baldock)
