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THIEL Audio Acquired by Private Equity Firm, Gornik Leaving

THIEL Audio has been acquired by a private equity firm based in Nashville, TN.

THIEL Audio has been acquired by a private equity firm based in Nashville, TN. New THIEL CEO Bill Thomas has indicated that the brand focus will continue to be on premium quality phase and time coherent loudspeakers, with long time THIEL employees Brad Paulsen, Gary Dayton, Lana Ruth and Rob Gillum all remaining onboard.

Kathy Gornik.

Thiel president/CEO Kathy Gornik is leaving Thiel, which she co-founded in 1976, according to a company spokesperson. 

“We identified THIEL as a brand with an unmatched heritage in performance audio and it is our intent to invest in the company’s infrastructure, strengthening the engineering department first and foremost,” said Thomas. THIEL has just launched the CS2.7 and the CS1.7 is in the final stages of development, rounding out the CS series with the CS3.7. “We can improve efficiencies here at THIEL in the product development and manufacturing stages, shortening the time to delivery for new products with zero compromise in product quality.”

New product categories will also be explored for THIEL; with an expansion of the architectural series an immediate priority serving to further establish the brand as a supplier of premium distributed audio solutions.

“We will invest considerable time and energy speaking to our distribution channels worldwide, gathering data about the marketplace from those who know it best before making any decisions about new product direction,” Thomas said. Resources will also be allocated to improving the company’s website and other marketing initiatives. 

In addition to Paulsen, Dayton, Ruth and Gillum remaining with THIEL, the entire factory team has been retained and the existing sales channel—comprised of reps and dealers—will remain in place. The R&D and manufacturing facility in Lexington, KY will continue to operate at full capacity as well—there are no plans to close THIEL’s Lexington, KY operation.

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