Henry Juszkiewicz

Chairman and CEO Gibson Guitar Corp.

  • Nashville TN

Hittin' The Best Note! Gibson's CEO plucks just the right strings as an experienced & energetic speaker on consumer branding, marketing

Contact

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Biography

Henry Juszkiewicz, chairman and CEO of Gibson Guitar Corp., grew up in Rochester, NY. With a passion for music and superior academic skills, he enrolled at the General Motors Institute in Flint, MI, a five year co-op engineering college. Putting his musical skills to work, he worked his way through school playing guitar – a Gibson, of course – in various rock bands playing for parties and weddings. After graduating with honors, he studied for an MBA in night school at the University of Rochester. He completed his MBA at Harvard University on a General Motors Fellowship.

Juszkiewicz then joined the New York firm of Neiderhoffer, Cross and Zeckhauser Inc., a pioneer in the area of middle-market deals, where he rose to the position of executive vice president of mergers and acquisitions. He left the firm in 1981 and, with two former Harvard classmates (David Berryman and Gary Zebrowski), acquired Phi Technologies of Oklahoma City. Within one month he turned the struggling technology firm into a highly profitable company.

In 1986, Juszkiewicz and his partners acquired the faltering Gibson guitar operation. Juszkiewicz's aggressive management style again effected an immediate turnaround, and Gibson became profitable within a month's time.

With creative and innovative marketing tactics he concentrated on the consumer rather than the retailer – a reflection of his personal experience as a guitar player. Refocusing the company on achieving the highest possible standards of quality and customer service, he drove Gibson from the brink of closing to a company that has regained worldwide respect with annual average growth of 20 percent over the last decade.

Juszkiewicz has been a stalwart supporter of numerous charitable organizations and has a strong commitment to the environment, health and welfare, music and the arts and educational causes. Under the banner of the Gibson Foundation, the philanthropic division of Gibson Guitar Corp, he supports numerous organizations including the Rainforest Alliance, Natural Resources Defense Council, WaterAid, Free The Children, Polaris Project, Feeding America, the World Food Programme, UNICEF and many others.

He currently sits on the Boards of the We Are Family Foundation, Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame & Museum. As co-founder of the highly lauded Music Rising program, he has helped rebuild hundreds of music programs in the Gulf Coast region post-Katrina.

Industry Expertise

Advertising/Marketing
Manufacturing
Music

Areas of Expertise

Fan Based Marketing
How to Grow A Company
How to Deal With A Government Investigation
Marketing Your Brand
Strategies for Leadership
Organizational Development
Social Media and Corporate Communications

Accomplishments

Chairman and CEO – Gibson Guitar Corp.

Gibson is known worldwide for producing classic models in every major style of fretted instrument, including acoustic & electric guitars, mandolins & banjos.

Board of Governors – We Are Family Foundation

The We Are Family Foundation (WAFF) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the vision of a global family by creating and supporting programs that inspire and educate the next generation about respect, understanding and cultural diversity – while striving to solve some of our biggest global problems at the same time.

Board of Trustees – Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is operated by the non-profit, educational Country Music Foundation. The mission of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is to identify and preserve the evolving history and traditions of country music and to educate its audiences.

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Event Appearances

KEYNOTE SPEECH

Social Media World Forum Europe  London, England

2012-03-27

Monitoring and measuring social media

Social Media World Forum Europe  London, England

2012-03-27

Commencement Address

Kettering University Commencement  Kettering University, Michigan

2009-12-12

Sample Talks

Fan Based Marketing: It's all about passionate fans

Brand Equity is built on developing long term relationships with consumers and helping them become passionate fans.

This involves a recognition of their emotional needs, and the use of both traditional and social media.

Availability

  • Keynote
  • Host/MC