"This is the next step in the restructuring plans that Mackie put into motion last November," commented Rice. "We have set the stage for success and I'm confident in the new senior management team's ability to build upon the strong foundation that I have helped to establish over the last year."
Mackie CEO Jamie Engen said of Rice: "Paul has made considerable contributions to Mackie over the last year and we wish him well as he moves on to new challenges."
Loyko, who was most recently Mackie's senior vice-president of sales US, is ready to tackle these new challenges. "Paul has established a rock-solid foundation on which to build a world-class sales organization. In the coming months, I will deploy to the international sales organization the same framework of accountability and process that has already begun producing domestically. In addition, I look forward to teaming with Ken Berger as he and his team assume responsibility for strategic business development."
Ken Berger, Mackie's senior vice-president of marketing, commented: "Strategic business partnerships became an important part of Mackie's business plan in 2002 and that trend will continue to play out as we move forward. The Universal Audio relationship is a prime example of how we can leverage the strengths and core competencies of other companies in order to augment our own product offering. In working closely with sales, we will be better able to assist in forging a clear product strategy for all of Mackie's brands and deliver relevant, cutting-edge products to the market."
(Lee Baldock)