YAMAHA CORPORATION OF AMERICA PROMOTES CALVIN AND KNUDSEN

—Paul Calvin Named Piano Marketing Manager; Craig Knudsen Becomes Electronic Keyboard Marketing Manager—

BUENA PARK, CA (September 18, 2000)—Yamaha Corporation of America, Piano Division, announces the promotions of Paul Calvin to Piano Marketing Manager effective August 21 and Craig Knudsen to Electronic Keyboard Marketing Manager effective September 5.

Paul Calvin, Piano Marketing Manager

According to Terry Lewis, Senior Vice President, Yamaha Corporation of America, Calvin and Knudsen are both well suited to their new posts.

"Paul Calvin brings invaluable sales and management experience to the division, and Craig Knudsen has been responsible for a series of key innovations while at the same time serving as a prominent ambassador for our products," Lewis says. "Both promotions are well deserved and will result in a stronger, more competitive Piano Division."

Calvin, a 25-year veteran of the music products industry, joined Yamaha Corporation of America in 1996 as Keyboard Division Product Manager. Since 1997 he has served as Digital/Acoustic Keyboard Marketing Manager. The Keyboard Division has since been renamed the Piano Division.

In his new post, Calvin will be responsible for the nationwide marketing of piano and Disklavier products. "I look forward to continuing the tradition of Yamaha pianos as we move into our second century of piano manufacturing," he says.

Craig Knudsen, Electronic Keyboard Marketing Manager

Knudsen has served as a Yamaha Keyboard Specialist in his 15 years with Yamaha Corporation of America. He developed the Follow Lights™ software and co-developed the CueTime™ software that has enabled the ease of use and enhanced the enjoyment of the Yamaha Clavinova line of digital pianos. Most recently, he created the SmartKey™ concept for Disklavier pianos and released the software with Yamaha Piano Specialist Phillip Keveren. Knudsen is a graduate of Northwestern University, and earned his masters degree in business administration from Harvard in 1986.

In his new position, Knudsen will concentrate on the nationwide marketing of Yamaha Clavinova digital pianos and other products.

"As a Yamaha consultant, I've been traveling the U.S. with Yamaha and its dealers for well over a decade," Knudsen says. "The electronic keyboard market is a challenging one, but I have a lot of strong relationships across the country and an outstanding line of products to market. I can't wait to get started."

For more information, write Yamaha Corporation of America, Piano Division, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622-6600; visit www.yamaha.com on the Web or telephone (714) 522-9011.

 

© 2000 Yamaha Corporation Of America, All Rights Reserved.
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