Fender Hires Guitar Center CEO

[bassyRyan]

http://www.gearpipe.com/former-guitar-center-boss-larry-thomas-to-become-ceo-of-fender/


How does everyone think this will affect Fender...for the better or worse?

 

[M0ses]

Worse.

 

[colcifer]

This can't be good.

 

[Agito]

Oh no.

 

[splitcoilsenior]

Where'd I put my noose......

 

[sirero]

CBS era part 2?

 

[Buchada Azeda]

Maybe Fender will be exclusive to GC/Musician's Friend in the US.

 

[syciprider]

Here is some info on Thomas (who was CEO of GC for 8 yrs)

Thomas began his career in 1971 with instrument wholesaler/importer Buegeleisen and Jacobson, Inc. He joined Guitar Center in 1977 as a salesperson, subsequently rising through increasingly responsible roles including store manager, regional manager, general manager, president and ultimately chairman and CEO. At Guitar Center, he played an integral role in the company’s continued growth, acquisitions and subsequent public offerings, and eventual status as the largest, most popular music chain in North America.

Thomas is a passionate music fan and advocate, an active lifelong musician, and participates on several music-related boards, including the Fender Music Foundation, USC Thornton School of Music, the American Music Conference and the California Music Project.

He seems to be a pretty accomplished businessman and musician. How is this bad news for FMIC again?

 

[syciprider]

CBS era part 2?

The outgoing guy played a big role in the employees' buyout from CBS in the 80s. Somehow I don't think that he will ensure that his successor will not sell FMIC off to another big company.

 

[KramerBassFan]

IMHO this won't really change anything.

 

[allotabass]

.

 

[peterpalmieri]

Oh no.

Says the guy with all the gear in his signature and profile available in any and every GC store....

 

[JoshuaTSP]

Larry Thomas signature strat?

 

[3wavylines]

I imagine he knows a lot about selling musical instruments. I wonder how much he knows about building them.

 

[smcd]

Countless thousands of people know how to build instruments. What you need is someone who knows management and sales.

 

[panama]

I imagine he knows a lot about selling musical instruments. I wonder how much he knows about building them.

really? REALLY?!

 

[Staccato]

Who wrote the gearpipe article?

Let's hope that Thomas increases North American manufacturing-rather than cutting jobs in California & Mexico!

-John
(Not a former Fender employee)

 

[DutchDude]

Let the man prove himself, at least he's a musician and not some CBS-kind of manager.

 

[heath_r_91]

I imagine he knows a lot about selling musical instruments. I wonder how much he knows about building them.

He's the CEO, he doesn't have to know how to build them. He just needs to know how to run the business side of it. They have people to build them, they have people to run the business. What is wrong with that?

 

[3wavylines]

Countless thousands of people know how to build instruments. What you need is someone who knows management and sales.

I am hoping he knows how to manufacture a quality product. I am hoping he knows how to hire people who know how to design and manufacture a quality product.

If he can't tell the difference between a good musical instrument and a crap musical instrument, then he won't be able to hire people who can tell the difference, either.

Management and sales only get you so far if you don't have a quality product to sell.