MARLBORO, NJ — July 25, 2006 — KEF, renowned British manufacturer of audiophile quality speakers, today announced the expansion of its North American operations with the opening of a new sales and marketing facility in Toronto aimed to better serve the Canadian market. Effective immediately, KEF will sell directly to authorized dealers in Canada, having been previously served by a local distributor. Ian Brown joins the KEF team as Canada’s Director of Sales and Marketing to lead the factory-direct initiatives.
“KEF is a global brand, and we are aggressively looking to expand our presence in all markets, both in the Americas and around the world,” said Alec Chanin, president of KEF America. “We have enjoyed a long and strong working relationship with our previous distributor but in order to stay competitive and grow our presence in the Canadian CE channel we have opted to go direct.”
Chanin added: “With a factory direct sales force present in the Canadian market we are able to significantly improve our level of dealer support and competitiveness in the market. Additionally, we’re excited to welcome Ian Brown to our team. Ian has the know-how and well established relationships to help us achieve our goals and directly serve Canadian retailers and custom installers with the most efficient, comprehensive and expert service available.”
Brown is ready to spearhead the operations of KEF’s new business unit. With over 25 years of experience in sales and marketing, Brown has extensive knowledge of the Canadian market. His plans include strengthening dealer relationships, providing a higher level of service, and diversifying current distribution strategies. He stated: “There’s great potential to grow the Canadian CE channel. KEF’s decision to go direct will ensure that we attain our sales and growth objectives with a huge emphasis on better servicing our dealers.”
All North American customer service, warranty and technical issues will continue to be managed by KEF America corporate headquarters in Marlboro, New Jersey.
Talking Points:
– Effective immediately, KEF will distribute its products directly to the Canadian market via a new business unit located in Toronto.
– Ian Brown, a consumer electronics veteran in the Canadian market, has joined the KEF sales and marketing team to lead the initiative.
About KEF Audio
KEF, a division of GP Acoustics, is a UK based company that has earned a reputation as the premier manufacturer of stunning, audiophile-quality speakers for modern home cinema, hi-fi and custom installation applications. KEF products which are distributed around the globe, have won awards from both sides of the Atlantic, as KEF is a brand name long associated with style, quality and technical innovation.
Founded in 1961 by a British electrical engineer named Raymond Cooke on the banks of the River Medway, KEF is driven by a passionate belief in the power of new materials, new technologies and design ingenuity. Still occupying the same riverbank site, KEF passionately remains true to its patented, proven technologies such as Uni-Q and ACE. These characteristics, traditions and above all sound quality, secure KEF’s world-class reputation.
For additional information about KEF and its award-winning products, please visit www.kef.com.
