Jabra, GN Parent Names Bouten CEO
By John Laposky -- TWICE, 10/9/2006
COPENHAGEN — GN Store Nord, the Dutch parent of U.S. brands GN Netcom and Jabra, has named Toon Bouten president/CEO.
The appointment comes as GN restructures after selling one of its other businesses to focus solely on the headset business.
The restructure of GN was triggered after it sold GN ReSound and its affiliated activities in GN Otometrics, which specializes in hearing instruments and audiologic diagnostics equipment, to Phonak Holding AG.
As a result of the sale, the current president/CEO Jorn Kildegaard decided to pursue interests outside of the company, according to a release.
Bouten assumes the responsibilities of GN Netcom immediately.
Hans Henrik Lund, president of GN Netcom, has also left the company.
“GN is the worldwide market leader of headsets for contact centers, offices and Bluetooth mobile phones. It is an extremely innovative company with strong products and great, highly skilled people. GN is well positioned to leverage the tremendous market opportunities” said Bouten in a statement
Earlier this year, GN combined its two headset businesses, GN Netcom and GN Mobile to create a single organization. Between them in 2005, they manufactured a total of 25 million headsets, amplifiers and other accessories, an increase of 50percent over 2004.
The products were sold under GN's own brands, Jabra and GN Netcom, as well as to global cellphone manufacturers under OEM contracts.
Joining forces will reinforce the two divisions' ability to sustain high growth and innovation leadership, the company stated.
Bouten is a Dutch national who lives in Munich, Germany and will relocate to Denmark. Most recently, he was executive VP of Philips Consumer Electronics and head of Philips Consumer Electronics, Europe. Prior to that, Bouten was VP /GM at Compaq Consumer Group EMEA.
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