RICHARD METCALFE

2016 - present

Reporting directly to the SVP & GM of the Consumer Audio SBU, the new Innovation role involves driving the consumer audio Innovation strategy across all Business Units, including Smart Audio, Connected Home, Luxury Audio, Headphones & Wearables and Car Aftermarket.  Based in Silicon Valley, this challenging role focuses on new technology and partnerships and how to productize them, including development of the Voice/AI strategy for all consumer audio products, and new VR/AR opportunities as examples.  Key achievements so far which are public are the Harman Kardon Invoke loudspeaker in Conjunction with Microsoft, which will be the first device to run Cortana embedded, a VR experience with HTC Vive and our JBL Everest Elite 700 headphones, and ongoing partnerships with Google, Facebook, Apple, Microsoft, Baidu, and many startups in Silicon Valley.

2014 - 2016

Based in the heart of Silicon Valley, responsible for longer term planning of product roadmaps, features, new exponential technologies and compelling value propositions in the Connected Home category and beyond.  Leading the team in Palo Alto initially, then in Mountain View, responsibility for identifying technology trends and partners, executing POC demos and supporting hand off to the NPI team in Shenzhen across categories.  Interfacing with Apple, Google, Facebook, Silicon manufacturers and many other companies to develop deeper partnerships and bring value to the Lifestyle division product lines.

2013 - 2014

Responsible for building up and directing the product management team in Shenzhen for home & multimedia products, including portable Bluetooth speakers, home wireless speakers and providing support for the Home Audio business including Soundbars, AV Receivers, Home Theatre Systems and Loudspeakers.  Proven results show number one share in many categories, with the product and design team having won the most awards from any audio company over the past 19 months.  Demonstrated business leadership by driving synergies across BUs and categories.

2009 - 2013

Located in Shenzhen, China since August 2010, and responsible globally for the Multimedia (MFi and digital music solutions) product line, role includes working with regional business units to drive short and mid term revenue and profit, working with marketing services to identify market trends and develop a global product roadmap that fits with the brand strategy.  Co-ordination with business development to drive new business partnerships outside the traditional audio distribution channels, and work with the engineering team to ensure products are launched to the market on time, on quality and in line with consumer demands.  Responsible for many award winning products, including CES innovation, What Hi-Fi, IF, Red Star, EISA and Red Dot design award winners.

2008 - 2009

Responsible globally for the Harman Kardon brand and product strategy, including home audio receivers, loudspeakers and multimedia products.  Managing a remote team to drive the Harman Kardon global product roadmap, NPI and manage a profitable business unit.  Developed 5 year brand plan with new brand direction and strategy to drive double digit growth in a declining market.

2003 - 2008

Responsible for Harman’s Multimedia and Headphone products, the role has included building the International business (EMEA, Australia, India, Russia) from scratch, working with a world class sales, marketing and management team to enter and expand new market areas including the successful iPod accessory sector and computer speaker market.  From 2004 to 2007, the business grew by 218%.

2002 - 2003

Responsible for the property developer project, activities included engaging high end residential developers to install pre-wired systems for home entertainment and multi-room applications using Harman Consumer brands, including interfacing to Crestron and AMX systems, meeting with clients to sell complete solutions, and project management down to final commissioning.

2001 - 2002

Co-ordination of marketing activities, product management and development for high end digital and analogue products including mixing consoles, loudspeakers, amplifiers and signal processors. Highlights include high profile launches for a new generation of digital mixing consoles, including DM2000 and PM1D.

2000 - 2001

Audio-visual system design and project management for high profile jobs incorporating voice evacuation, audio-visual, public address and control hardware (AMX, Crestron).  Clients included LVMH, Hilton Group, MI5, Burj Al Arab hotel, and high end private residential installations.

1998 - 2000

Distribution was passed from Harman Audio UK to Arbiter Pro UK.  Responsible for the JBL Professional range of products in the UK market, including system design and commissioning for night clubs, sports stadiums, live sound and other Arbiter brands.  Indirect sales support for all pro audio brands (AKG, dbx, C.Audio).

1997 - 1998

Technical support for the JBL range of professional loudspeakers and other Harman Professional equipment (AKG, dbx, C Audio, Allen & Heath) including system design (using CADP2 and EASE software), assistance with commissioning (using RTA software) and dealer/staff training.  Product feedback given to development team in Northridge on improvement areas to drive next generation products.

1995 - 1996

Technician at the Irish national broadcaster’s training centre, assisting in the training of engineers and producers in the disciplines of lighting, sound, VT editing, and vision mixing. Research tasks included the development of low noise power amplifier design and broadcast application headphone limiters.