Dennis Harburn had been with Shure for over 36 years, having joined in 1972, when it was Shure Electronics Limited (SEL), as a sales rep for London and the South East. As SEL shifted to independent ownership, he quickly rose through the ranks as assistant sales manager, sales manager, and then sales director before being named Managing Director in 2000.
While spending almost his entire career supporting Shure, Dennis also was a classic car enthusiast, a lover of horse riding, a die-hard fan of Gillingham F.C and was the proud owner of a vast and diverse music collection. According to one of his associates: "His enthusiasm for music was infectious and there did not appear to be a genre or band that he did not know."
"I was shocked and deeply saddened by this news," said Sandy LaMantia, Shure's president and CEO. "Dennis had a very long relationship with Shure, as an Associate and as a channel partner. His expertise and leadership in the complex United Kingdom audio marketplace were invaluable to Shure throughout those years. He will be greatly missed. My sympathies go out to his family and to our 'family' of UK associates."
"I met Dennis roughly 20 years ago, but really started to get to know him in 2002 during Shure's re-acquisition of the company's UK Distributorship," commented Al Hershner, vice-president of Shure's Asia and Americas Business Units. "He will always be remembered for his integrity, humility, compassion and his leadership of our operations in the UK, but I will have a lasting memory of his wonderful sense of humour...always able to lighten even the most difficult of moments."
"Dennis was instrumental in the growth and continued success of this company," said Markus Winkler, managing director of Shure's Europe, Middle East and Africa Business Unit. "He was a special person . . . a true gentleman. His professionalism and his personality will be missed by all of us at Shure and by those in the professional audio industry who knew him."
It goes without saying that all his colleagues in the UK office will miss him immensely. The honest and fair manner in which he did business, the way that he looked out for and cared about his staff, his passion for Shure, music, old cars, fishing, the latest gadgets and the loving way in which he spoke of his family, are just some of the attributes that made Dennis a much respected and admired managing director, says the company.
Dennis is survived by his wife, their three children and three grandchildren. His colleagues at Shure wish to send their heart-felt condolences to his family and friends.
(Claire Beeson)
