UNIVERSAL AUDIO EXPANDS ITS LEADERSHIP TEAM U niversal Audio (UA) has welcomed seasoned leaders Dana Ruzicka
GUITAR CENTER APPOINTS NEW EVP OF TECH G uitar Center has appointed Adolfo Rodriguez as executive vice presi-
and Ethan Kaplan to its executive team, both reporting to founder and CEO Bill Putnam Jr. Ruzicka joins UA as a lifelong mu- sician and accomplished leader with nearly 30 years of industry experi- ence, most notably at Avid Technology where he held roles, including vice president of strategic alliances, vice president of product management, vice president of market solutions, senior vice president and general manager, and, finally, chief product officer.
dent, chief technology and information officer. Rodriguez joins Guitar Center with more than 25 years of experience in technology transformation. In his new role, Rodriguez will be responsible for the end-to-end technology vision and
Dana Ruzicka
Adolfo Rodriguez
execution for the company, while leveraging disruptive technolo- gies to reimagine the customer experience. Rodriguez will report directly to CEO Gabe Dalporto. “Adolfo’s extensive experience and exceptional ability to har- ness emerging technologies make him a phenomenal addition to Guitar Center as we forge ahead with our transformation,” Dalporto said. “His expertise in core retail systems and processes and his passion for transforming the customer experience make him a perfect fit at Guitar Center. We are confident that under his leadership, we will reach new heights and deliver ground- breaking solutions to our customers.” Before joining GC, Rodriguez served at Advance Auto Parts, where he spearheaded innovative technological advancements across various functions. {guitarcenter.com} NAMM FOUNDATION ADDS NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR N AMM has announced Julia Rubio as the new NAMM Foundation
Ethan Kaplan
“There’s no other industry I’d rather be in. Music creation has been my life’s creative passion,” Ruzicka said. “It’s an honor to be joining UA, where this same passion is shared by so many.” Kaplan joins UA as a longtime leader in digital music technol- ogy, with 25 years creating digital transformations at Fender, Live Nation Labs, Warner Music Group, and most recently, leading AI investments at Smash Capital. {uaudio.com} ESP GUITARS TAPS MONYPENNY FOR LATIN AMERICA SALES E SP Guitars has named MI and pro-audio industry veteran
Philip Monypenny to the new role of Latin America sales manager. Based in Chile, Monypenny will be the point person in furthering the potential of the ESP brand in the Latin American markets.
executive director. Rubio succeeds Mary Luehrsen, the Foundation’s former ex- ecutive director and NAMM’s senior public policy advisor, who will be retir- ing later this year after 22 years. Rubio will report directly to NAMM president
Philip Monypenny
Julia Rubio
“ESP has long had a very strong presence in Mexico, Central America and South America,” said Miguel Soto, ESP’s vice president of global sales. “Bringing a skilled and respected pro like Philip aboard in this dedicated role cre- ates new opportunities to greatly expand ESP’s business in these important territories.” Monypenny has spent more than 15 years in the MI and pro-audio industries with roles as a sales and product manager for importer/distributor/retailer Audiomusica, as well as act- ing as a territory manager for Audio-Technica. Most recently, Monypenny has served as the purchasing and contracts manager for Televisión Nacional de Chile. At ESP, he will be tasked with being the point person for the Latin American guitar market, working with local distribution and retail partners to maximize the potential of the ESP brand. {espguitars.com}
and CEO, and NAMM Foundation president, John Mlynczak. “Julia’s abundance of experience and expertise in music educa- tion and performance, as well as in the nonprofit world, will have an immediate global impact on The NAMM Foundation and its critical endeavors and activities,” Mlynczak said. “Her business acumen and leadership qualities are an ideal fit for our culture and will be instrumental in driving the Foundation’s mission, values and goals.” Rubio brings a wealth of experience in nonprofit leadership and grantmaking to her new role. She began her career as a public-school orchestra teacher in Hamilton, Ohio. Rubio comes to NAMM from the Merakey Foundation where she served as the executive director since 2019 and oversaw grantmaking and fundraising for the nation’s largest behavioral health nonprofit. {nammfoundation.org}
18 I MUSIC INC. I SEPTEMBER 2024
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