Mike, I really think you’re trying to conflate two very different things here. I know you want Naim to say something concrete about NZ, but as I have said to you before and in the earlier thread about NZ, Naim and Focal can likely not say anything yet until matters are resolved for all parties. Conflating that with Charlie’s departure will not give an answer any time sooner. Sorry I can’t give you what you want here.
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Even for me it’s not a good news. I hope, at minimum, that Naim components will be still hand made in UK Salisbury.
I am proud to own something made and designed in UK.
Today it’s french direction, tomorrow it will be probably Chinese. Sad world. The economy is run by shareholders.
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Of course we all have the option to buy a load of new Naim kit now if we are really concerned, and there will be pre-loved gear out there for many decades. And of course the future may be bright
Moved on or moved out !! I’ve seen it all when private equity company’s involved
As someone has pointed though maybe storm in teacup
Just because one post in the management structure is removed does not mean that ownership and control passes to China. That’s just silly. Companies grow and evolve, otherwise they stand still and wither away. So long as they continue to make great products it really doesn’t matter who runs the company. This anti France, anti China xenophobic sentiment isn’t very nice at all.
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Yes, HiFi made in Salisbury is one of the key attractions of Naim in most markets, so I think you can rest easy there.
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Any sneaky hint on when new products might see the light of day Richard?
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Patience Bevo. Current demand is sky high and Naim have their hands full just fulfilling that. But you’ll find out soon enough…
(I am of course still very hopeful for the return of the ARO and the eventual - better late than never - launch of the Naim cassette deck)
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An nda (non disclosure agreement) would prevent such comments and perhaps impact marketing plans. My lips are sealed.
Yes, I was rather surprised to hear the news, but I really shouldn’t be. I guess I felt that Charlie’s appointment was a long term one, which apparently is not the case.
As has already been said, companies have to change and evolve in dynamic markets. Even the change from CD to streaming has significant ramifications regarding R & D, product development and the changing skill-sets Naim need to recruit and retain. The alternative to change is an inexorable decline.
Let’s face it, Naim have already been through significant change in recent years/decades. Changes of MD, the link up with VerVent/Focal, transitioning from CD to streaming, launch of Lifestyle (MuSo) and entry (Uniti) product lines, production of MuSo in China, the development and launch of Statement are just some of the massive changes Naim have achieved in a relatively short period of time.
Naim’s product quality and reputation has never been so high IMV, and none of this could have been achieved without change. In the scheme of things, a change in MD is rather small beer in comparison, even if the vertical structures might alter going forward.
VerVent are not daft, they now what makes Naim tick and they know what has made Naim successful. It is not in VerVent/Focal’s interest to do anything that might harm that. Stakeholder (shareholders, customers and staff) management is king, if you want to continue on the path of ever-greater success in your chosen market.
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I feel you haven’t understood my post. How can I be anti french? It’s non sense. Not anti Chinese neither.
I am for example proud of french cheeses. They are made in France, ruled by french people, managed by french people.
Naim is a uk product. I prefer that the leadership is made by a British director, because it’s a British product, with its uk characteristics, uk history…
Each product has its identity. A french direction for the Naim company is not the best. Be it french or Chinese or Italian…
Stop looking at people down your nose! Who said the ownership passes to China. Not me. I just said one day it may be the case.
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Private equity will typically run a business to generate the highest return in the time that those individuals are in control.
This can lead to very short timescales of trying to wring profit out of a brand so the top few financiers can get as many millions as fast as possible.
There are exceptions e.g. Buffet and other long term value investors.
I know nothing about Vervent so we can only hope that they do the right thing, I.e. put a CEO in who has excellent technical knowledge and love of Naim, and is a good manager of his people and can build a stable core and culture of audio excellence.
And not milk the business.
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Yes I hear you re current demand Richard , I’ve just ordered the Superline through Harry and naturally none available in Australia, so it’s back to Salisbury HQ to manufacture. No hurry happy to wait.
I have the ARO on one of my TT’s, what a beauty that is and even better with the Linn Krystal cartridge Harry installed last week
Happy days
Thanks for all your insights on Naim’s future Richard, it’s very reassuring
Bevo
“Holy Blue” as they say in France… or “WTF” as we say in the good ol’ USofA!
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I understand and can even agree. But there are some iconic products which are the proud of a country. There is french excellence for some products and British excellence for others. And those products have a history too. I personally prefer that they stay entirely french or entirely British, from the factory, to designers to the Directory.
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I agree that it’s not good to have a managing board based in Paris with production and the operating company in Sailsbury.
Focal is a French company and Naim is an English one.
And they should steer clear of trying to link the Focal brand to the Naim brand.
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Surely there’s a billionaire Naim fan out there who would love to own the company…or we could all pitch in and purchase it ourselves?
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Isn’t Jaguar and Land Rover owned by TATA Motors?
Seems that’s worked out pretty well.
I’m pretty sure Richard isn’t lying, y’know. And anyway, these types of changes happen all the time in healthy businesses; people just don’t like change, even if it’s for the better, long term.
However, the NZ dealer situation is a certainly disheartening.
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BMW makes some of the most unreliable cars at their level of the industry. I owned a 325i and a 540i, both new, and I’d never own another one. I can’t believe I bought the second one.
So much for understanding automobiles, or your industry. Not a great example.