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‘Industry Stalwart’ Robert Heiblim Dies

Robert Heiblim

Long-time consumer technology executive, consultant, and CTA committee chair and division head Robert Heiblim, 69, died last Friday, January 7, after a long battle with cancer.

For the last 12 years, Heiblim was a partner at bluesalve partners, which he co-founded, a consumer electronics consulting company. A highly regarded CTA mentor for more than a decade, Heiblim was a Consumer Electronics Foundation trustee and served as board chair of the CTA Small Business Council, which represents the over 2500 member companies, from 2019-2020 and helps support CES Eureka Park startups. He was chair of the Audio Board from 2016-2017 and vice chair from 2012 during which time he helped shepherd the High Resolution Audio standard. Heiblim also was a member of the CTA-predecessor Electronic Industries Association/Consumer Electronics Group Board of Directors from 1991-1993.

“We mourn the passing of industry stalwart Robert Heiblim,” noted CTA president and CEO Gary Shapiro. “He gave of himself to the industry in so many ways: as a top executive of major technology brands, as a consultant and as a friend and mentor to so many in industry. We will miss his optimism, commitment to the industry and eagerness to share his wealth of knowledge.”

After studying mathematics at U.C. Berkeley and attending the first CES in 1969 in New York while working for Sam Goody’s record stores during the summer, Heiblim started out his business career at Pacific Stereo. He joined Denon in 1980 and was named Denon Electronics president a year later. During his tenure, Denon introduced what is now its industry-leading line of A/V receivers, as well as other new audio businesses, products, and technologies.

After leaving Denon in 2001, Heiblim served as a senior vice president at maker Gemini Industries for two years and as an SVP at Altec-Lansing for another two years before co-founding bluesalve.

He was a significant contributor to audio standards extending back to the Working Groups for the development of the CD and recently setting the definitions for high resolution audio and over the counter (OTC) technologies for the hard of hearing.

Over the years, Heiblim was a ubiquitous and ebullient presence at industry events, a frequent CES conference panelist, and both friend, boss, and mentor to uncountable numbers of consumer technology executives.

Heiblim is survived by his wife, Lisa, twin sons Derek and Trevor, and a daughter, Riley-Rose. By request of his family, donations in his honor should be directed to the CTA Foundation.

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