Posted in: News and Events
Product and team information for 2015
These are exciting times at Monitor Audio. As a uniquely British audio manufacturer we are always looking at ways to improve our products, operations and service levels to ensure that we give our customers what they are looking for. With the launch of our new Gold and Bronze series of loudspeakers, I believe that our product range is the best we have ever had and, over the next few months, you will see that we will be improving this range even further.
In our ceaseless push for improvement, I am delighted to announce that we have recently made several promotions and appointments to our sales and marketing team. I believe that we now have the best team in the industry and, with their passion for our products and exceptional industry experience, this team will really help us to grow the Monitor Audio brand.
In addition to the new appointments and latest product launches, this news article also details some of our latest press coverage. We are very proud of what the reviewers have to say about our speakers and are certain that their comments will help Monitor Audio reach new audiences and drive sales. I hope that you find it interesting.
Best regards
Andrew Flatt
Managing Director
NEW APPOINTMENTS
Director of Global Sales and Marketing – Alex Emson
Alex has been an integral part of Monitor Audio’s international sales operation for over eight years. During this time he has worked ceaselessly to ensure that our loudspeakers are available across the network he managed.
Alex’s enthusiasm, understanding of our products and multi-lingual skills has ensured that he has developed excellent relationships with all of our customers. Alex has a strong strategic sales background and has huge knowledge of the audio industry - in addition to working at Monitor Audio, he has worked for Arcam. Alex also has a real passion for music - he has a degree in Music and Technology, and held a post graduate music post at the University of Cambridge.
In his new role as our Director of Global Sales and Marketing, Alex’s experience, skills and love of music will be a huge asset as he guides our sales and marketing operation to ensure that our products reach both new and existing customers.
Head of UK Sales – Joseph Boyd
We have also recently promoted Joseph Boyd from UK Sales Manager to the position of Head of UK Sales. Joe has been with Monitor Audio for over twelve years, during which time he has been dedicated to promoting our products.
Joe has previously worked as a sound engineer and has a love of music in all its forms. He believes that he has been privileged to combine a passion for music with working in an industry that preserves the integrity of the original recording.
Upon his promotion, Joe said, ‘Being part of the Monitor Audio family is something that I am justly proud of, a company with an enviable reputation for product quality, ingenuity and exemplary customer service. The company sets very high standards and I am flattered that I have become part of the new management team at this competitive time of our history.’ We would like to congratulate Joe upon his very well deserved promotion.
Digital Marketing and Community Manager – Ai Pheng Yeap
Ai Pheng has moved from our design team to join the marketing department in a newly created role – Digital Marketing and Community manager.
Ai Pheng has a true understanding of what makes a great Monitor Audio speaker from her time working on the design of our products. She will be able to use this valuable experience to inject a unique perspective to our digital marketing operation and enable us to reach both existing and new customers.
To further help with the promotion and sales of our speakers, we will be looking to expand our marketing operation in the near future.
Export Sales Manager – Jeremy Brown
I am delighted to announce that we have recruited Jeremy Brown as our new Export Sales Manager. Jeremy joins us from Cyrus Audio where he has worked for five years. Before this he worked for Sevenoaks.
Jeremy has an excellent track record in sales, a true understanding of our industry and outstanding relationships with his customers. Jeremy is a long time Monitor Audio owner and I am sure that you will enjoy working with him. Jeremy starts work for Monitor Audio on 1 July.
Sales Manager – Sylvain Quainon
We are also very pleased to announce that Sylvain Quainon will shortly be joining Monitor Audio. For the past four years Sylvain has worked as an export manager for the renowned French audio manufacturer, Cabasse.
Sylvain has excellent interpersonal skills and brings an extensive knowledge of the audio industry with him. We believe that he will quickly and seamlessly fit into the Monitor Audio team and that he will rapidly be making contact with his new customers.
RETIREMENT
After 15 years with Monitor Audio, our International Sales Director, David Hobbs, is retiring.
David has helped Monitor Audio loudspeakers reach fresh customers and has grown our distributor network from 21 to 74 countries in his time with us. He has also overseen a sales revenue growth in these territories of nearly 400%. David’s tireless approach has really aided the growth of the Monitor Audio brand outside of the UK. David set up our German network from scratch and he will continue to run this with his wife, Anja.
We would like to thank David for all of his efforts working for Monitor Audio and wish him the very best in his retirement; we are sure that he will enjoy spending some quality time at home with his family in Germany.
NEW PRODUCT LAUNCHES
New Bronze Range
Our New Bronze range is enriched with elements of our Platinum, Gold and Silver loudspeakers. The brilliant new Bronze series will transcend the expectations of its price class and eclipse even its venerated multi-award winning predecessor, Bronze BX.
Our latest entry-level champion moves up a gear from BX and rival budget speakers because new Bronze is simply in a class of its own. The features speak for themselves. For the first time we’re using spectacular steel-grey C-CAM® driver cones for a seamless blend with finishes, available in a choice of Black Oak, Pearlescent Walnut, Rosemah and a new White Ash. Invisible driver fixings and floating magnetic grilles add to the impression of streamlined sophistication, lending new Bronze the look and feel of a premium range.
New Gold Range
Purer by design, our latest Gold range refines the technology of its award-winning GX predecessor to set a new gold standard for our celebrated high-end speaker line. Equipped with optimised drivers and empowered by the production quality of our world-beating Platinum flagship range, gilt-edged Gold turns another page in the story of Monitor Audio’s audiophile speaker family.
Developing the legacy of three award-winning generations, eight new dedicated stereo, centre channel, surround and subwoofer models share a trinity of enhancements including an evolution of the C-CAM Rigid Surface Technology (RST®) bass cone employed by their Gold GR and Gold GS predecessors; tighter production tolerances for their advanced C-CAM ribbon tweeters, and a smarter more functional grille design. Energised by these upgrades our new Gold range offers greater transparency, consistency and visual sophistication to devotees of sound and style everywhere.
Airstream S150
Hot on the heels our award-winning Airstream S200 wireless speaker is the new Airstream S150 Bluetooth speaker. The S150 concentrates effortless functionality, advanced digital processing and powerful amplification into a diminutive form and delivers a deceptively big stereo sound from all Bluetooth devices within seconds and anywhere in the home.
The S150 is designed to get the most from higher quality Bluetooth aptXTM streams, and pairs instantly with compatible devices to deliver CD-like sound quality. For added convenience, iOS devices may be charged via the USB input and analogue devices can connect through a 3.5mm stereo jack. The S150 is available in a choice of white or black finishes and can be placed anywhere in the home – shelves, table-tops, or on a wall using one of our optional Monitor Audio Speaker Mounts. The Airstream S150 will be available from July.
PRESS COVERAGE
Our products regularly feature in the press. Here are three of the latest reviews:
In the Observer’s recent soundbar group test, our ASB-2 was awarded five stars and was declared the best soundbar for film soundtracks. Here are some of their comments:
‘…manages to strike a balance between price and performance…’
‘…brilliant vocal quality for dialogue and surprising bass for explosions…’
‘…the most useful of these soundbars with great features…’
BBC Music magazine recently featured our new Gold 100s and the reviewer was very impressed. This is what he had to say:
‘…the tweeters lived up to their promise of tonally accurate treble…’
‘…the lower frequency bass cone has benefited from an upgrade, pumping out a better bass sound than earlier models…’
‘…the Gold 100s certainly score highly for their overall sound…’
‘…really come alive when the volume is cranked up, but, importantly, they also work well at low volumes…’
Our wonderful wireless S200 has just been reviewed in The Sun newspaper. We love what they said:
‘…so sleek and beautiful that you will probably want to put it out on show for all to see and notice…’
‘…being easy on the eye is good but, being easy to use is better. And that’s certainly true here…’
‘…if you haven’t yet joined the wireless sound revolution, this is certainly a device that will tempt you more than most…’