STAMFORD, Conn., Dec. 9 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Harman International Industries, Incorporated (NYSE: HAR) announced today that David Jin will join the Company on January 1, 2009 as President and Country Manager of China and North East Asia (Peoples Republic of China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Korea). He will be based in Shanghai and report directly to the Chairman and CEO of Harman International.
"This appointment is a key enabler for unlocking our real potential in the China market," said Dinesh C. Paliwal, Harman's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "Our recent comprehensive market analysis reveals significant opportunities from both a growth and cost leverage perspective. David's expertise as a China veteran and his entrepreneurial genius will serve him well in executing on our growth strategy in this fast growing market."
Mr. Jin is a 20-year veteran of various business management roles with extensive focus in Asia. He served most recently as CEO of Phillips Healthcare in Greater China, based in Shanghai. Earlier, he held executive positions with several global leaders in the region including ABB Group, Schindler, and United Technologies. He holds a bachelors degree in International Business and an MBA in Finance from American University in Washington, DC.
Harman International currently employs 1000 people in China, and intends to triple employment in the country during the next five years with revenue quintupling to one billion dollars. The Company recently inaugurated a new world-class manufacturing center in Suzhou, and serves a number of high-profile customers in the region across its automotive, consumer and professional audio divisions. The new Suzhou site provides audio and infotainment systems to regional automotive producers including Shanghai General Motors, BWM China, as well as Korea's Hyundai, Ssangyong, and Kia auto brands. Harman was a major supplier of professional audio systems to this year's Summer Olympic Games in China.
Harman International ( http://www.harman.com ) designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of audio and infotainment products for the automotive, consumer and professional markets. The Company maintains a strong presence in the Americas, Europe and Asia and employs about 12,000 people worldwide. The Harman International family of brands spans some 15 leading names including AKG, Audioaccess, Becker, BSS, Crown, dbx, DigiTech, Harman Kardon, Infinity, JBL, Lexicon, Mark Levinson, Revel, QNX, Soundcraft and Studer. The Company's stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the Symbol HAR.
