August 18, 2022 I Appointments
Guitar Center Names EVP, Chief Customer Officer
Rich Hoalst
Guitar Center has named Rich Hoalst executive vice president and chief customer officer. As a member of the management committee, Hoalst will report directly to Ron Japinga, president and CEO. This newly created position represents an organizational realignment for Guitar Center in which all marketing and e-commerce activities will be combined into one administrative team. The appointment furthers Guitar Center’s ongoing endeavors toward assembling effective executive teams while ensuring the market is receiving one unified message.
In his new role, Hoalst will oversee Guitar Center corporate marketing and public relations, CRM for all brands company wide, performance marketing, as well as brand marketing and creative for Guitar Center and Musician’s Friend and eCommerce and contact center operations for Musician’s Friend and Guitar Center.
Hoalst joins the company with more than 25 years of experience as a global, multi-channel executive with an extensive background in retail merchandising and e-commerce.
“I am incredibly excited to join such a great organization and learn from everyone to help continue to move the business forward. I find great enjoyment in guiding organizations to the next level of growth, efficiency, and profitability,” Hoalst said. “Throughout my career, I have prided myself in leading teams that work to serve the ever-changing needs of the customer, take risks, and pursue innovations and will utilize this expertise further as we continue to grow Guitar Center.”
