Managing Director, Americas

Join our passionate and dedicated teams who are shaping the future of sound!

THE COMPANY

Who we are

L-Acoustics is the industry leader in the design, manufacturing, and distribution of premium sound reinforcement technologies. Through our dedication to innovation and product design excellence, we shape the future of sound with technologies that enable audio professionals and artists all around the world to elevate the listener experience.

Founded in 1984 by L-Acoustics now President Christian Heil, the company has remained at the forefront of innovation in the live entertainment sound technology industry. Since its inception, L-Acoustics has grown to become a thriving, global, disruptive, innovative and agile organization continuously pushing the boundaries to envision the sound of tomorrow.

The company has experienced consistent double-digit growth in recent years and solidifying its position as a rapidly expanding and leading force in the audio technology sector.

Presently, L-Acoustics unites a global workforce of close to 800 people (1000 by end of 2024) who share a collective passion for sound, innovation, and advancing the frontiers of audio technology. This shared dedication drives the company's commitment to delivering sound systems that exhibit the highest, most consistent, and predictable performance levels in the market.

L-Acoustics strategically collaborates with a network of partners, distributors, and integrators across 77 countries, ensuring global coverage to meet the needs of our clients. To accommodate the scale of our operations, L-Acoustics established offices in France, Germany, the UK, the USA, and Singapore.

The entirety of L-Acoustics' production process, from components to assembly, is fully integrated and exclusively based in Europe. The company operates four production sites in France and two in Germany, emphasizing its dedication to maintaining quality control and manufacturing excellence.

Offerings

Recognized for pioneering the line source array, L-Acoustics adopted a scientific approach to revolutionizing sound design, enabling performance prediction. Our in-depth study of all areas - from raw materials to high-end technologies, software, and electronics - contributes to a unique and broad combination of expertise that enables us to stay at the forefront of innovation. L-Acoustics' offerings revolve around two main components:

Products & Solutions

• Loudspeakers: Short, Medium, Long throw loudspeakers and Subwoofers, we propose a comprehensive range of versatile loudspeakers to fit all your needs and audience sizes.
• Electronics: Amplification, control, processing, advanced protection, and audio distribution.
• Software: From Design, through 3D Mixing to Showtime, L-Acoustics software suite offers a complete and powerful solution matching the engineer workflow.
• Acoustic Solutions: Ambiance, the next generation of virtual acoustics creating truly immersive experiences that transform the space, immerse the audience and live and breathe in these virtual worlds.

Services

• System Design: To ensure the successful design of a sound system for a project, L-Acoustics offers architectural drafting and sound system design services.
• Demonstration: L-Acoustics application engineers provide dedicated support for product demonstrations and Open Days to ensure the successful presentation of our products and technologies.
• Calibration: L-Acoustics offers sound system calibration services carried out by our team of highly experienced application engineers.
• Show Support: Our application engineers provide dedicated on-site support during the implementation of our sound systems and L-ISA Immersive Hyperreal Sound technology.
• Facilities: Our studio and auditoria facilities are available to support various needs such as pre-show mixing preparations, content creation, event hosting, and Open Days - all utilizing L-ISA Immersive Hyperreal Sound.
• Real-time translation: AI-powered, cloud-based, low latency translation services streamed directly to module platforms via L-ISA Processor powered by Mixhalo.

Through these offerings, L-Acoustics aims to address two primary applications-Production (including Touring, Festivals, Musicals, Corporate Events, Special Events, and Broadcast) and Fixed Installations (encompassing Performing Arts, House of Worship, Nightclubs, Live Clubs, Sports Arenas, Sports Stadiums, Cruise Ships, Theme Parks, Hospitality, Academic Venues, Museums & Art Exhibits, Home, and Yacht)-with a comprehensive and cutting-edge portfolio of Products, Solutions, and Services.

Our foundation

We are a multifaceted company that combines a large corporation's strengths with the flexibility of a start-up, an artisan approach that meets industrial strength, the creativity of the arts with the precision of technology, and a relaxed working environment with a commitment to performance.

LAcoustics is built around the foundations of innovation and performance, taking a people-first approach with our operations remaining environmentally conscious, educating and elevating our teams and other audio industry professionals - all supporting our passion for enhancing the arts and technology.

Ownership
We are a privately owned company in which shareholders are actively involved in strategic and operational management.
Website: https://www.l-acoustics.com/

THE POSITION

Title: Managing Director Americas
Reporting Line: The Managing Director Americas will report respectively to Laurent Vaissie, CEO L-Acoustics (based in Westlake Village, USA), and Herve Guillaume, CEO L-Acoustics Group (based in Paris, France).
Location: Based in Westlake Village, California, USA
The context: Over its 40 years of existence, L-Acoustics has emerged as the market leader in the pro audio technology industry. With yearly growth rates in the double digits, the company has been undergoing a deep transformation to adapt to the requirements of a mushrooming and global business. In this context, the Americas region has been, and remains, a major growth vector for L-Acoustics underlining the strategic and operational importance of the Managing Director Americas within the organization.
General Overview: As part of L-Acoustics' Senior Leadership, the Managing Director Americas will support our company's operations & growth as a key contributor in the development & implementation of global programs and initiatives surrounding a full-spectrum of corporate functions in a matrix environment within the Americas region (USA, CANADA, LATAM).

Responsibilities:

More precisely, the Managing Director Americas will be accountable for:

Strategic Direction and Business Planning:

• In close collaboration with the global functional leadership, plan and implement the strategic direction of the Business Unit to achieve Group targets for retention growth, profitability, and market share in participated segments.
• Drive market expansion, penetration, and portfolio enhancement.

Team Leadership and Business Analysis:

• Direct team activities to achieve business objectives through thorough market and competitor analysis.
• Review, maintain, and enhance business processes for efficiency improvements with appropriate functional teams.

Financial Management and Reporting:

• Review financial statements, sales reports, and activity data to measure productivity, goal achievement, and identify areas for cost reduction and program improvement.
• Maintain administration and relevant reporting and planning systems.
• Annual budget definition in collaboration with global division leaders
• Maintain budget spending on target through the fiscal year

Legal Compliance and Safety:

• Ensure teams' activities comply with relevant Acts, legal demands, ethical standards, and Corporate Business and Safety procedures.

Human Resources Management:

• Provide leadership to the team through incentives, targets, learning, and development.
• Determine staffing requirements, cooperate with TA Team on recruitment, manage, train, and motivate staff according to company procedures and employment law.

Sales Targets and Continuous Improvement:

• Ensure the delivery of agreed sales revenue, operating profit, and expense ratio targets.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives.

Industry Intelligence and Market Development:

• Leverage existing networks to stay attuned with market and competitor intelligence.
• Stay abreast of industry best practices and disseminate industry, market, and customer intelligence throughout the organization.

Logistics Management and Supply Forecast

• Oversee logistics operations to ensure efficient supply chain management, covering procurement and distribution.
• Forecasting supply requirements and optimizing inventory levels to minimize stockouts, while implementing streamlined processes to reduce lead times.

Brand Development and Relationship Management:

• Maintain and develop corporate image, reputation, and brand for L-Acoustics.
• Represent L-Acoustics brand, values, and corporate culture effectively.
• Cultivate favorable contacts with current and potential key accounts, fostering brand loyalty and mutual trust with business partners.

Marketing and Communication:

• Establish and coordinate marketing objectives, policies, and programs within the overall Marketing Policy of the Group.
• Translate marketing strategies into day-to-day sales strategies, collaborating with sales and application teams.
• Plan and manage internal communications and awareness of corporate direction and activities.

Organizational Growth and Expansion:

• Scale organization, processes, and premises according to growth projections.
• Identify and materialize opportunities for expanding offerings to existing and new clients.

THE PERSON

Experience, skills & educational background:

• Master's degree in business management or equivalent.
• A minimum of 15 years of experience in General Management, ideally as a Country or Regional P&L leader in an international matrix organization.
• Proven track record of P&L leadership in the Americas region.
• Experience within a technology driven company, ideally in a BtoB environment.
• Experience with added-value distribution, logistics, and business development for premium manufacturer.
• Proven expertise in developing effective strategies in close collaboration with global functional leadership, showcasing a demonstrated capability to create strategic plans and translate them into tangible and impactful outcomes.
• Background in a company with premium market positioning is a plus.
• Proficiency in overseeing distribution operations, encompassing inventory forecasting and management.

Personality:

• Decision maker, strategic thinker with a hands-on modus operandi.
• Doer mentality, impactful.
• Growth focus, superior drive.
• Creative, capacity to innovate and challenge existing status quo.
• Strong people leader with demonstrated ability to build & develop teams and influence in a complex matrix organization.

Join our passionate and dedicated teams who are shaping the future of sound!