Schultz e Mendello (thanks to globalmusictribune)
In 2005 Bill Schultz (who died in 2006) retired and Bill Mendello, already manager under CBS, became the new CEO of FMIC.
Soon after also the other big protagonist of 1985 buyout, Dan Smith, retired (he died on September 28, 2016). Smith and Schultz's contribution to Fender, however, can’t be forgotten: had it not been for them, probably the company that invented Stratocaster would not exist today. At the beginning of 2008 FMIC incorporated Kaman Music Corporation (KMC), the largest independent distributor of musical instruments in the United States, which produced or distributed brands as Ovation, Takamine, Hamer, Latin Percussion, Gretsch Drums, Gibraltar Hardware, Toca Percussion, Sabian Cymbals and Genz Benz amplifiers.
Old Fender's sales director, Don Randall, the man who gave the name to Stratocaster, died on December 23 of that year.
In 2010 Mendello retired too and was replaced by Larry Thomas, who had been CEO of Fender Musical Instruments Corporation until October 2013, when Scott Gilbertson took his place. Larry is remembered for having revisited American Vintage and introduced American Select.
In 2012 Fender moved its direction to Scottsdale Perimeter Centre and in 2014 sold the historic Guild acoustic guitar brand to the Cordoba Music Group.
In 2015 Andy Mooney, Scottish by birth, became the new CEO in place of Gilbertson.
Soon after also the other big protagonist of 1985 buyout, Dan Smith, retired (he died on September 28, 2016). Smith and Schultz's contribution to Fender, however, can’t be forgotten: had it not been for them, probably the company that invented Stratocaster would not exist today. At the beginning of 2008 FMIC incorporated Kaman Music Corporation (KMC), the largest independent distributor of musical instruments in the United States, which produced or distributed brands as Ovation, Takamine, Hamer, Latin Percussion, Gretsch Drums, Gibraltar Hardware, Toca Percussion, Sabian Cymbals and Genz Benz amplifiers.
Old Fender's sales director, Don Randall, the man who gave the name to Stratocaster, died on December 23 of that year.
In 2010 Mendello retired too and was replaced by Larry Thomas, who had been CEO of Fender Musical Instruments Corporation until October 2013, when Scott Gilbertson took his place. Larry is remembered for having revisited American Vintage and introduced American Select.
In 2012 Fender moved its direction to Scottsdale Perimeter Centre and in 2014 sold the historic Guild acoustic guitar brand to the Cordoba Music Group.
In 2015 Andy Mooney, Scottish by birth, became the new CEO in place of Gilbertson.
