Morten Støve departs DPA as Susanne Seidel joins
Published: ASIA
WORLD: Morten Støve, the co-founder of DPA Microphones, has left the company after 24 years in what has been described simply as a decision taken by the ‘DPA board of directors and Mr Støve to end their working relationship’. The news arrives as Susanne Seidel, formerly president of global marketing for Sennheiser, is revealed as the manufacturer’s new executive vice president of sales and marketing.
Mr Støve, a well-known and much liked figure in the professional audio industry, has reportedly already vacated the company he started, with Mr Poulsen telling Pro Audio Asia that the exit was ‘very fast’. Due to legal constraints, few official details have been announced as yet regarding the background to the departure, while at the time of writing Mr Støve was unavailable for comment.
The news follows a period of considerable change for DPA, not least the arrival of Mr Poulsen – a member of the company’s board of directors for four years prior to his appointment as CEO in October 2010. At the time he promised that DPA was looking forward to ‘a future filled with many new products, technologies and activities that will take DPA to the next level’. Significant launches followed including the single-ear d:fine headset microphone.
Susanne Seidel will officially join the manufacturer on March 1st, and will attend the Frankfurt Pro Light & Sound exhibition alongside Mr Poulsen.
Speaking of her arrival, the CEO explained: ‘Two years ago DPA agreed on a new strategy. In our attempt to fulfil this ambitious strategy, I am very pleased that someone of Susanne’s calibre has decided to join DPA. We share the same visions about the future of the audio industry and the same view of how to conduct a successful business. I am looking forward to a fruitful collaboration, and I am sure that both DPA and the pro audio industry will benefit from this.’
Ms Seidel added: ‘A large part of the market for microphone solutions is cornered by better and smaller microphones to meet the continuously challenging conditions of sound reproduction. I have been watching DPA Microphones closely for many years and I’m confident that DPA has great market potential with its innovative technology and products.
‘The market consists of some very technology-focused companies and some very volume-focused companies. At DPA, you clearly sense the passion and dedication for both the user of the products and for the core microphone technology. I look forward to participating in bringing the DPA brand to an even higher level and present it to an ever broader audience in the world of audio.’