Harman Kardon 2010 Annual Report Download - page 7

4 HARMAN Annual Report 2010
HARMAN an additional infotainment contract for
entry-level luxury cars and we launched new branded
audio systems for several automakers.
As this annual report goes to press, we have also
announced new awards for HARMAN infotainment
in Toyota vehicles sold in North America, comple-
menting a European award announced earlier.
We also announced a new award from Chrysler
Group and Fiat, which further validates the
technical superiority of our scalable, next-generation
infotainment system. We are delighted to welcome
these new infotainment partners, and we will work
with every global automaker to deliver the most
sophisticated in-car experience available today.
We appointed new automotive division leadership
during the year, naming HARMAN veterans Sachin
Lawande and Michael Mauser as co-presidents.
Their collective expertise in technology, fi nance and
project management is complementary and provides
a strong leadership platform to grow profi tably while
keeping a sharp focus on innovation and execution.
In the consumer division, we introduced some 90
award-winning new products while sharpening
our resources for marketing and distribution. More
than 400 store-within-a-store installations have
been completed to improve bundling of premium
audio with fl at-screen televisions. New HARMAN
Consumer web sites now serve customers in
more than 25 countries and an expanded social
networking presence builds loyalty among the
connected generation. We implemented a new
direct-to-consumer distribution model in the United
States, while appointing a seasoned channel
partner to support our China growth strategy.
The consumer division also opened a new Global
Product Development Center in Shenzhen, China,
putting these operations in close proximity to major
suppliers, contract manufacturers, and the fastest
growing consumer markets.
Our professional division continued to set the
benchmark for audio performance among legendary
artists, sporting organizations and the venues where
they perform. Our AKG® brand was recognized
with a prestigious Technical GRAMMY® Award,
complementing an earlier award to our JBL® brand
to make HARMAN the only company to be thus
honored twice by the GRAMMY® organization. We
outfi tted more than 25 venues across the Shanghai
World Expo 2010, including a role as an Offi cial
Sound Partner. The division introduced nearly 100
new products during the year, and several of these
were recently featured in the fi rst-ever professional-
grade application of the Ethernet Audio Video Bridge
protocol for synchronized streaming audio and video.
We took several steps to sharpen HARMAN’s
portfolio during the year, including the sale of QNX
Software Systems in a $200 million cash transaction.
Soon after, we completed the acquisition of Brazil’s
market leader for professional audio, Selenium.
Selenium’s robust market presence and distribution
channels give us a strong foothold in this region
and our resources there will drive new opportunities
across the consumer, automotive and professional
audio markets.
We continue to strengthen both the cultural diversity
and competence of our Board and management.
Dr. Jiren Liu, one of Asia’s most respected business
leaders, is the most recent addition – bringing vast
experience in the Asia markets to our Board which
now spans fi ve nationalities among nine independent
directors.