d&b Names Jan Biermann as Head of R&D;
Frank Bothe Now CTO
d&b audiotechnik is expanding its research and development department and has appointed
a new member to its management team. Jan Biermann has taken over from Frank Bothe as
head of research and development. Bothe will now focus on the company’s medium- to long-
term technology roadmap in his role as chief technology officer.
As leader of the research and development team, Biermann will be responsible for
implementing product development projects, reporting to d&b Managing Director Markus
D&B’S FRANK BOTHE & JAN BIERMANN
Strohmeier.
“I am delighted to welcome Jan aboard,” says Strohmeier. “We searched extensively for someone who could further strengthen our
already incredibly talented research and development team as we look to create the technologies that will shape the future. The role that
Frank’s knowledge and vision has played in d&b’s development to this point is immeasurable and we are thrilled to find in Jan the experi-
ence and expertise to build on that work.”
For more information, contact d&b audiotechnik: 418-843-2410, FAX 828-681-5405, [email protected], www.dbaudio.com.
Harman Professional
Solutions to Lay Off 650
Employees from AV
Division
Harman
Professional
Solutions
confirmed in
early Septem-
ber that it is
laying off 650
employees
from its pro
AV division.
The news
HARMAN CEO DINESH PALIWAL
comes just a
few months after Harman was bought by
Samsung.
“The changes we announced yester-
day are the culmination of a transforma-
tion that the Professional Solutions Division
has been undergoing for the last two years
to better serve our customers, increase
our competitiveness, and accelerate new
product innovations,” David Glaubke, direc-
tor of public relations, global professional
solutions for Harman International told
AVnetwork.com. He added that Harman
will close facilities in Indiana and Utah
and other smaller offices in Europe that it
inherited through acquisitions over the last
decade.
After that, Harman says it will enter
“rebuilding mode” and will form three
“Centers of Competency” in Northridge, CA
for acoustics; Richardson, TX for electronics,
DSP, and video and control; and Aarhus,
Denmark for lighting. These centres will
allow the company’s engineers to focus
on critical product differentiations instead
of requiring them to develop motors, me-
chanical structures, and other supporting
elements, according to the company.
PROFESSIONAL SOUND 13