Plantronics names new MD for Europe and Africa

Plantronics (NYSE: PLT) has appointed Paul Clark as its new vice president and managing director of its Europe and Africa business.

Clark – who previously led the Plantronics business in Northern and Eastern Europe, Russia and Sub-Saharan Africa – succeeds Philip Vanhoutte, who is set to leave the company on April 1 after 12 years.

“Paul has deep knowledge of our business, customers and partners and his strengths in global collaboration position him well to help take our company to the next level,” comments Ken Kannappan, president and CEO, Plantronics. “He is the ideal choice to build upon the excellent work performed by Philip and to assume leadership of Plantronics in Europe and Africa.”

Clark says that rise of professional and personal communications means that it is “exciting to lead a business committed to helping people improve their connected lives.”

Previously EMEA marketing director, Clark launched Plantronics’ international reseller programme, and was also instrumental in launching the Plantronics Connect Partner Programme in the Russian and Eastern European markets.

Meanwhile, Paul Dunne has been promoted to UK and Ireland country manager, after more than eight years heading up the company’s UK and Ireland channel sales.

The new role expands Dunne’s responsibilities to include marketing and corporate account teams as well.

Commenting on the appointment, Dunne says: “At Plantronics, we transact our business globally via the channel and in the UK and Ireland we’re fortunate to have a large and loyal partner community with a deep understanding of our business. As a result I’ll still have a lot of involvement with the channel in my new role and by taking on responsibility for marketing and corporate account teams as well, we’ll have a more integrated approach that sees each function working together to drive the UK and Ireland business forward.”