New York, NY (Top40 Charts) HARMAN International Industries, Incorporated (NYSE:HAR), the premier audio, infotainment and software services company, today announced that two-time NBA All-Star Damian Lillard will serve as a
Brand Ambassador for the company's JBL® audio brand. Lillard will participate in JBL marketing and awareness initiatives, which will include brand advertising and integrated social media and content programs promoting the brand's audio products. Lillard is the first player to be signed by HARMAN since the company announced in
September 2014 that it was launching a comprehensive multiyear marketing and licensing partnership to become the official headphone, speaker and audio partner of the NBA, Women's
National Basketball Association (WNBA), NBA Development League (NBA D-League), and USA Basketball.
"From Damian's performance on the court to JBL's innovation in audio - the shared trait is a fierce pursuit of excellence," said Ralph Santana, Chief Marketing Officer of HARMAN. "Music and sports tap into people's emotions, aspirations and imaginations, influencing culture in a unique way that transcends geographic and demographic boundaries. We are excited to work with Damian, an immensely talented athlete, leader and role model, to elevate the JBL brand and enhance the experience of music and sports for fans around the world."
Following his selection as sixth overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft Presented by
State Farm, Lillard immediately won recognition as one of the league's premier point guards. Breaking franchise and league records in his first season, he was named the undisputed Kia NBA Rookie of the Year in a unanimous vote. Lillard's rise to elite-level player in the league is the result of his constant drive to improve and outdo himself, which mirrors JBL's dedication to advancing and redefining quality and performance standards for audio products.
"Music has always been a major part of my life and my workouts, and it amplifies my motivation to deliver my best performance in every game," said Lillard. "Whether it's for #4BarFriday content, training or to put me in the right mindset prior to a game, having quality audio is important to me. So, I'm excited to support JBL in inspiring others to listen to their music in the best way possible."
Lillard joins a robust roster of brand ambassadors from all over the world who partner with HARMAN, including GRAMMY® Award-winning rock bands
Maroon 5 and Linkin Park; global musician, producer, artist and humanitarian
Quincy Jones; Indian film composer, record producer, musician, singer and philanthropist AR Rahman; and international piano superstar and United Nations Messenger of Peace Lang Lang.
About HARMAN
HARMAN (harman.com) designs and engineers connected products and solutions for consumers, automakers, and enterprises worldwide, including audio, visual and infotainment systems; enterprise automation solutions; and software services. With leading brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon® , Mark Levinson ® and Revel®, HARMAN is admired by audiophiles, musicians and the entertainment venues where they perform around the world. HARMAN also is a technology and integration services leader for the Automotive, Mobile, Telecommunications and Enterprise markets. More than 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems. The Company's software solutions power billions of mobile devices and systems that are connected, integrated, personalized, adaptive and secure across all platforms, from the work and home to car and mobile. HARMAN has a workforce of approximately 25,000 people across the Americas, Europe, and Asia and reported sales of $5.9 billion during the last 12 months ended December 31, 2014. The Company's shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol NYSE:HAR.
