Mount Makers Chief, Sanus Merge Companies

Savage, Minn. — Mounting solutions makers Chief Manufacturing, based here, and St. Paul, Minn.-based Sanus Systems have merged. The two will be operated as one company, but remain in their current corporate headquarters. The Sanus brand will be retained because it is “well known and respected in the marketplace,” said Chief.

The combined operation creates a complementary opportunity that will enable both companies to be more cost-effective and customer-oriented in the markets they serve. “The merger will bring the leader in professional audio-visual mounting solutions [Chief] with the leader in retail and home theater A/V solutions [Sanus] together, and further leverage our commitment to significantly grow and serve our customers,” said Dale Glomsrud, who will be president/CEO of the combined manufacturers. He had been president/CEO of Chief.

Chief offers a complete line of mounts, lifts and accessories for flat-panel displays and projectors, with its prime targets, the ProAV home theater, residential and workstation markets.

Sanus designs and build a broad range of A/V furnishings, mounts and accessories, selling such products as home theater units, TV stands, audio racks, wall mounts and speaker supports into the retail marketplace.

Jim Wohlford, founder and president of Sanus, will become general manager of Sanus reporting to Glomsrud. Keith Pribyl, VP of Sanus prior to the merger, will become director of consumer sales responsible for both the Sanus brand and the Chief brand into all retail channels.

Other key execs in the merged company include Scott Gill, VP/operations at Chief, and Steven Durkee, VP/sales and marketing at Chief. Gill will be responsible for operations, purchasing, product development and product management. Durkee will be responsible for all sales and marketing strategic initiatives.