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Guitar Center Vice President of Merchandise for Guitars and Amplifiers
PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Clyne Media, Inc.
Tel: (615) 662-1616
Fax: (615) 662-1636FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GUITAR CENTER APPOINTS PHIL RICH TO THE POSITION OF VICE PRESIDENT OF MERCHANDISE FOR GUITARS AND AMPLIFIERS
WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA, December 8, 2008 — Guitar Center (GC), the world’s largest musical instrument and professional audio retailer, announces the appointment of Phil Rich to the position of Vice President of Merchandise for Guitars and Amplifiers. The announcement was made by John Bagan, Executive VP of Merchandise, and reflects Guitar Center’s continuing commitment to company growth and the development of a premier management team.
In his new position, Rich will be responsible for overseeing the purchasing and merchandising of all stringed instruments and amplifiers, as he is poised to offer vendors and GC stores a unique composite of specialized experience and knowledge, continuing to serve GC’s partnerships to their fullest following a seamless transition of leadership.
An 11-year veteran of Guitar Center, Rich began his tenure with GC in 1997 as a front line sales person in the downtown Seattle store. In March of 1999, he earned the GC Leadership Award and was promoted to Store Manager. Over the next four years he successfully managed four store locations, including two in Colorado and two in Washington. In 2003, he took over as the District Sales Manager for nine stores in Washington and Oregon, and in 2004 he was promoted to Director of Sales for Guitars and Amplifiers. As Director of Sales, he was responsible for all training, store fixtures and display planograms, as well as sales incentives for a nationwide guitar and amp sales force, helping him develop a deep understanding of national sales promotions, training, retail design, and managing a nationwide rep team. In June of 2005, he earned Guitar Center’s prestigious President’s Award and the following year moved to Guitar Center management as the Director of Merchandise for Electric Guitars. In this position, he was responsible for all electric guitar purchasing and worked closely with major guitar manufacturers on many high profile projects, giving him special product development and guitar marketing expertise. Recently he was asked to serve on the Board of Directors for NAMM. Prior to Guitar Center, Rich served 8 years in the US Navy as a guitarist and audio engineer for the Navy Band.
“Phil brings a terrific blend of store and merchant experience, product knowledge, strong internal and external relationships, intelligence, instinct and passion to his new role,” stated Bagan. “I look forward to working with him in his new capacity and all the great things that means for Guitar Center, our vendors, our stores, customers and other business associates.”
Photo File: GC_PhilRich.JPG
About Guitar Center
Guitar Center is the leading United States retailer of guitars, amplifiers, percussion instruments, keyboards and pro-audio and recording equipment. Our retail store subsidiary presently operates more than 200 Guitar Center stores across the U.S. In addition, our Music & Arts division operates more than 100 stores specializing in band instruments for sale and rental, serving teachers, band directors, college professors and students. We are also the largest direct response retailer of musical instruments in the United States through our wholly owned subsidiary, Musician's Friend, Inc., and its catalog and Web site, www.musiciansfriend.com. More information on Guitar Center can be found by visiting the Company's Web site at www.guitarcenter.com.The Guitar Center logo is a registered trademark of Guitar Center, Inc. Other brand or product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated.
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