CHATTANOOGA, TN — (Marketwired) — 01/23/15 — Clarity, a division of Plantronics (NYSE: PLT), today announced that its president, Carsten Trads, will retire from his current position after more than a decade at the company–s helm. Trads is stepping down to return home to his native Denmark to lend support to a family health issue. His last day as president will be May 15, 2015.
Plantronics has engaged a national executive search firm to identify and evaluate potential candidates for Clarity–s next president. Founded in 1969, Clarity is the leading provider of amplified telephones, assistive listening devices and other communications solutions for people with hearing loss. The company was acquired by Plantronics in 1986.
“Carsten is both an incredible leader and phenomenal person. He–s not only successfully grown Clarity as a business but the groundbreaking products that have been developed under his watch have improved the quality of life for millions throughout the U.S.,” said Ken Kannappan, president and CEO of Plantronics. “I am grateful for Carsten–s tireless dedication and service to Clarity and Plantronics. Under his vision and leadership, Clarity is a strong, dynamic and innovative company. We–re energized about the future of Clarity and confident the next president will take the baton from Carsten and continue to advance technology in unprecedented ways for America–s seniors.”
Under Trads– leadership, Clarity has become an industry leader and pioneer as well as a champion for seniors and the larger hearing loss community. Trads has spearheaded the launch of intelligent products and formed strategic partnerships that have helped millions of people with hearing loss, low vision, limited mobility, dexterity issues and other health challenges.
Trads has forged an entrepreneurial culture at Clarity that ultimately led to a series of industry firsts, including the launch of Digital Clarity Power, the first digital amplification — similar to hearing aids — for amplified phones; ClarityLogic, the first remote diagnostic service for phones; Ensemble, the first tablet-based amplified phone; and ClarityLife, a social and wellness platform connecting seniors with loved ones and caregivers.
“I am deeply proud to have served as Clarity–s president for 11 wonderful years,” said Trads. “I–ve had the privilege to work alongside some amazing people at Clarity and Plantronics, a company that is determined to make the world a better place. At Clarity, we focused uniquely on seniors — a segment of the population that often goes overlooked by the tech industry. Because of our technologies, millions of people live fuller, more connected lives. I–m honored to have led the company for more than a decade, and I–m confident Clarity–s impact will only deepen in the years to come.”
Clarity, a division of Plantronics (NYSE: PLT), creates smart communication solutions that help seniors live richer, more engaged lives. For more than 40 years, Clarity–s innovative products — such as amplified telephones, notification systems and assistive listening devices — have helped people with hearing loss, low vision, limited mobility, dexterity issues and other health challenges. Clarity has pioneered many firsts — from digital sound processing in 2005 to remote-access customer service in 2010. Millions rely on Clarity to communicate at home, at work and throughout their lives. For more information, please visit or call 1-800-426-3738.
Clarity, ClarityLife, ClarityLogic, Ensemble, and Plantronics are trademarks of Plantronics, Inc. registered in the US and other countries, and Smart for Seniors is a trademark of Plantronics, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Ryan Witherell
615.500.2733
Lerin O–Neill
Plantronics
831.458.7595
You must be logged in to post a comment Login