Shure Appoints Karnes To General Manager

Shure Incorporated has appointed Mark Karnes to General Manager of the Personal Audio Business Unit, responsible for the company's E Series earphones and QuietSpot headset.

From the company’s press release:

Shure Incorporated recently announced the appointment of Mark Karnes to General Manager of the Personal Audio Business Unit. Karnes joins the company with more than 20 years of retail management and executive marketing experience. In his new role, he will be responsible for the growth of Shure’s personal audio products, including Shure’s E Series earphones and QuietSpot cellular headset, in the consumer market.

“Shure is at a turning point in the company’s history.  Following the successful launch of our E3c sound isolating earphones and QuietSpot headset, we’re looking to bolster our mainstream presence, and continue to drive adoption rates among consumers,” said Michael McGinn, Executive Vice President, Global Sales and Marketing. “We’re pleased to welcome Mark to the company as he’ll be instrumental in helping Shure become a first-class consumer brand.  Mark’s extended history in this market, combined with his technical experience and business aptitude, are key factors to ensuring our long-term success.”

Karnes’ most recent experience includes serving as the Director of Strategic Planning and Business Development for BDS Marketing, a leading point of contact marketing agency specializing in consumer electronics.  Prior to his tenure at BDS, Karnes was the Director of Retail Marketing for the Personal Communications Sector at Motorola. Karnes’ responsibilities entailed creating and implementing the retail marketing and merchandising strategies for all Motorola cellular products and accessories, which are sold in over 40,000 retail centers across the U.S.  In less than nine months with Motorola, Karnes succeeded in growing the company to become the #1 leader in market share, in addition to significantly bolstering Motorola’s reputation and helping them earn the title of the industry’s most recommended cellular handset & accessories supplier.  Previously, Karnes served as Assistant Vice President of Navigation Market Development for Alpine Electronics of America.  

Karnes has also served as a board member for the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) since 1998, and is currently serving on the CEA’s Home Networking and Information Technology board.   

“Shure’s distinct advantage over competitors is the company’s nearly 80-year legacy in producing high-quality, professional audio electronics.  Shure’s consumer earphones, for example, are built and tested in the same way as our products used by the most critical, discerning audience possible – professional musicians who rely on sound quality as their livelihood.  Consumers are certain to notice that difference,” said Mark Karnes.   

Karnes earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing, as well as an Associate’s Degree in Electronics Technology, from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale.