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PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Neilson/Clyne
Tel: (615) 662-1616
Fax: (615) 662-1636FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
HARMAN SPECIALTY GROUP SETS ITS SIGHTS ON
CONTINUED EXPANSION OF LEADING CONSUMER AUDIO BRANDS— Company announces ongoing development plans for the
distinguished Mark Levinson, Revel, and Lexicon lines of consumer audio products —
Following on the heels of the Mark Levinson No320S shipping, the Harman Specialty Group, a Harman International Company (NYSE-HAR), has begun to unveil the second phase of a comprehensive business plan that addresses brand positioning, domestic and international sales channels, marketing, and customer service for the Mark Levinson, Revel, and Lexicon consumer audio brands. The announcement was made today by Wayne Morris, President of the Harman Specialty Group, and further underscores Harman International’s ongoing commitment to the global expansion of its brands, while ensuring the continued growth of the Harman Specialty Group.One of the first steps is appointing dedicated Brand Managers for Mark Levinson, Revel, and Lexicon consumer products who will be directly involved in new product development and will help coordinate the activities of Sales, Marketing, Customer Service, Engineering, and Manufacturing. This move is designed to maintain a strong brand direction and identity for each of the Harman Specialty Group’s critically acclaimed lines of consumer audio and home theater products. Current Brand Managers include Kevin Voecks for Revel and Erin Taylor for Lexicon; a Mark Levinson Brand Manager will be announced in the near future. All Brand Managers will report to Andrew Clark, Vice President of HSG Marketing.
On the domestic sales front, the company has refocused key sales personnel and is in the process of augmenting the sales team. Bart LoPiccolo has been appointed the National Sales Manager for Revel and Lexicon and Jeremy Frost the Regional Sales Manager for Revel and Lexicon. Andrew Ward has been appointed Regional Sales Manager for Mark Levinson, and a National Sales Manager for Mark Levinson will be announced within the next few months. All of the Sales Managers will continue to report to John Batliner, Executive Vice President of Sales. In addition to allowing its sales force to concentrate on the Mark Levinson, Revel, and Lexicon brands individually, the Harman Specialty Group will be better equipped to gather market feedback so future product introductions and enhancements draw not only on engineering developments, but also market driven factors. The new structure will help position the audio brands’ distinctive identities to specialty dealers, as well as reinforcing the brand identities in the minds of customers. The company is also expanding its international sales force, designating Europe, the Middle East, and Africa as one region and Asia/Pacific and Latin America as another region. Andy Baker and Steve Frankel manage these regions for the Harman Specialty Group respectively. This will facilitate more direct contact with key accounts and participation in additional trade shows.
One of the objectives in the coming months will be initiating a dedicated marketing effort for the Mark Levinson line of high-end audio components. Building on the strength of Mark Levinson’s legacy of superior sound and unrivaled performance, the company will launch an aggressive advertising and public relations program in support of the latest entries to the Levinson line, the No320S Preamplifier and No390S CD Processor along with the No431 and No432 Power Amplifiers, and other products to be announced at future trade shows. Further capitalizing on the Mark Levinson/Lexus relationship, beginning in July and running through November 2004, a high-profile Taste of Luxury tour will be held in 13 cities across the U.S. An interactive Pursuit of the Perfect Sound room will highlight the merits of the Mark Levinson premium audio system in Lexus automobiles and expose visitors to Mark Levinson home products.
In addition, the Harman Specialty Group will be renovating the two critical listening rooms at its Bedford, MA facility to ensure that they look and sound their best. The new Stereo and Home Theater listening rooms will send a strong message to dealers, distributors, and journalists who visit the Bedford facility: the Harman Specialty Group takes listening very seriously, and has made a continuing investment in the rooms to ensure that they provide an ideal environment to evaluate products during development. This attention to listening helps ensure that Mark Levinson and Lexicon products meet the high standards that they have established in the market.
Commenting on the long-term goals, Wayne Morris, President of the Harman Specialty Group, stated, “We have recently started implementing Phase 2 of our plan, which focuses on such vital aspects as brand positioning, sales, customer service, and product development as well as overall marketing strategies for the Mark Levinson, Revel, and Lexicon consumer audio brands. With the seasoned team we’ve assembled to address increasing demands of the home theater, custom install, and stereo markets, I am confident that we’re prepared to sustain the growth of the Harman Specialty Group in coming years and to become the world’s best vendor of specialty A/V products.”
...ends 770 wordsThe Harman Specialty Group (HSG) is a leading manufacturer of high performance,
high fidelity audio/video components for use in the home. The Group’s brands include
Mark Levinson®, Revel®, and Lexicon®.HSG is a division of Harman International, Inc. Harman International (www.harman.com) is a leading manufacturer of high quality electronics and speakers for the consumer, professional, and OEM markets. The company’s stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol HAR.
“Mark Levinson,” “Revel,” and “Lexicon” are registered trademarks of Harman International Industries. U.S. patents and other worldwide patents issued and pending. Other company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated.
—For more information on the complete range of Mark Levinson, Revel, and Lexicon products, contact Harman Specialty Group, 3 Oak Park Drive, Bedford, MA 01730-1413.
Tel: (781) 280-0300; Fax: (781) 280-0490; Web: www.harmanspecialtygroup.com
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