Following a period of “unprecedented growth” for the British company, Chord Electronics has restructured its senior executive team, promoting Manufacturing Director, Matthew Bartlett, to the position of Managing Director with immediate effect.

Matthew is the company’s longest-serving employee, having started in 1990 (at just 15) and has developed an unrivalled understanding of Chord Electronics’ business, having worked in every department in his three decades with the Maidstonian manufacturer. Matthew will oversee all day-to-day aspects of the company’s business, supported by his senior team.

John Franks

Chord Electronics’ founder, owner and Chief Designer, John Franks, becomes Chairman, allowing him more time to develop and engineer future products as the company continues to grow. In his new role, John will continue to preside over the wider business but will focus on his primary passion: design.

The changes were announced to Chord Electronics’ global partners at the company’s international distributor conference in Asia, where the company offered a tantalising glimpse into the future, previewing a number of new-for-2020 products in a closed event for its worldwide distributors.

Matthew Bartlett

Commenting on the promotion, Matthew Bartlett said, “I am delighted to accept the role of Managing Director at a time of unprecedented growth for Chord Electronics. Having worked across all departments over nearly 30 years, including building our earliest amplifiers for our first customer, The BBC, my time-proven understanding of the business will no doubt serve me well as the company moves forward with its exciting plans for 2020 and beyond.

“I would like to thank John Franks, both for the opportunity and for his vision over the past three decades, in which he has successfully transitioned the business into the best shape of its life. I am looking forward to co-developing our award-winning proprietary-technology analogue and digital offerings for both consumer and Pro Audio, as we move beyond our 30th-anniversary celebrations this year and into a new decade of innovation.”

Chairman John Franks added, “It gives me enormous pleasure to announce Matthew as Managing Director. Having worked alongside me almost from day one, he is uniquely qualified to help strengthen the business in the future and brings unrivalled experience to the role. To my mind, there is no better candidate and I look forward to seeing him flourish further in his new position.”

New Chord Products

Details of the exciting new products shown at the company’s international distributor conference will be announced in due course, with initial information on the first emerging products available as early as December.

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