Press release
05.11.2008 - Las Vegas
Sennheiser Founder inducted into the Consumer Electronics Hall of Fame
Audio pioneer Prof. Dr. Fritz Sennheiser was inducted into the Consumer Electronics Association® (CEA) Hall of Fame for his contributions to the advancement of the consumer electronics industry. The 96-year-old founder of headphone and microphone manufacturer Sennheiser electronic GmbH & Co. KG is one of twelve distinguished industry leaders honored this year at the ninth annual Consumer Electronics Hall of Fame awards ceremony, held October 21, 2008 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Las Vegas.
Daniel Sennheiser, grandson of Prof. Dr. Fritz Sennheiser, with CEA President and CEO
Gary Shapiro (r.)Daniel Sennheiser, grandson of the founder, accepted the honor on behalf of Prof. Dr. Fritz Sennheiser (96), who was unable to travel from Germany. “Prof. Dr. Fritz Sennheiser is honored to be recognized so strongly by the American consumer electronics industry,” said Daniel Sennheiser, Director of Strategic Innovation at Sennheiser. “My grandfather has created and enabled new and interesting technologies that have helped shape our world. He remains a great source of inspiration for our business and continues to support Sennheiser’s commitment to developing even more exciting, innovative products.”
Prof. Dr. Fritz Sennheiser was chosen by the expert jury in the category “Founders and Inventors.” Under his management, the family-owned company designed many important innovations. These included the shotgun microphone in the 1950s, open-back headphones in the 1960s, infrared transmission technology in the 1970s and revolutionary developments in multi-channel wireless technology in the early 1980s.
Volker Bartels, speaker of the Sennheiser executive team, said: “Prof. Dr. Fritz Sennheiser’s motto was to allow his developers to give free rein to their creative ideas, no matter how crazy they might seem. And his staff translated this freedom and trust into innovative audio solutions.”
The 2008 CE Hall of Fame inducteesSince the founding of the CE Hall of Fame in 2000, the panel of industry experts has selected new honorees each year. Prof. Dr. Fritz Sennheiser joins impressive company in 2008, capturing the incredible honor alongside such industry greats as Ken Kutaragi, lead developer of Sony’s PlayStation gaming console; Martin Cooper and Donald Linder, who together developed the first mobile phone; and Joe Clayton, CEO of Sirius Satellite Radio and former head of RCA/Thomson. Past honorees include such inventors and scientists as Heinrich Hertz, Alexander G. Bell and Nikola Tesla.
Gary Shapiro, President and CEO of CEA, praised the 2008 inductees during the Consumer Electronics Association’s (CEA)® Industry Forum in Las Vegas: “The energy and commitment of these Hall of Fame inductees is behind the phenomenal growth and strength of our industry. And now, their great contributions are influencing a new generation of innovators to continue our success,” he said.
CEA
The CEA is the pre-eminent trade association in the US consumer electronics industry, counting more than 2,200 companies among its members. The association supports its members through legislative advocacy, market research, technical training and education, and the fostering of business and strategic relationships. The CEA also sponsors and manages the annual International Consumer Electronics Show. Find CEA online at http://www.ce.org/.
Sennheiser
The Sennheiser Group, with its headquarters in Wedemark near Hanover, Germany, is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of microphones, headphones and wireless transmission systems. The family-owned company, which was established in 1945, recorded sales of over €395 million in 2007, 83% of which were generated abroad. Sennheiser employs almost 2,000 people worldwide, around 55% of whom are in Germany. Sennheiser has manufacturing plants in Germany, Ireland and the USA, and is represented worldwide by subsidiaries in France, Great Britain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark (Nordic), Russia, Hong Kong, India, Singapore, Japan, China, Canada, Mexico and the USA, as well as by long-term trading partners in many other countries. Also part of the Sennheiser Group are Georg Neumann GmbH, Berlin (studio microphones), K + H Vertriebs- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH (Klein + Hummel studio monitors, installed sound) and the joint venture Sennheiser Communications A/S (headsets for PCs, offices and call centers).
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You can find all the latest information on Sennheiser by visiting our website at http://www.sennheiser.com/ or by contacting:
Sennheiser electronic GmbH & Co. KG
Press & PR • Edelgard Marquardt
Am Labor 1 • 30900 Wedemark
Tel: +49 (5130) 600-329
Fax: +49 (5130) 600-295
e-Mail: edelgard.marquardt@sennheiser.com
