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Meet the Kii Team

Innovators at Heart,
Disruptors by Trade

Bruno Putzeys

CTO

With the invention of UcD and Ncore, Bruno Putzeys is probably single-handedly responsible for turning class-D amplification into the preferred way of building high-end audio amplifiers. His designs are displacing class A and valve amplifiers in all the niches they held until now and are making truly audiophile performance available in very compact, energy-efficient products. In 2010 he delivered a shot across the bow of high-end loudspeaker design. The Grimm Audio LS1 was immediately hailed by several reviewers as the best hi-fi speaker so far. With the foundation of Kii Audio in 2014 he has turned his full attention to loudspeakers with the intention to revolutionize them in the same way as he did amplifiers.

Chris Reichardt

CEO

Learning to play music at the age of nine, Chris Reichardt went on to become a professional guitar and music theory teacher in the 1980s. After studying Geology and Business Administration he decided to work in the audio industry in the late 1980s. Through the Years Chris has worked for numerous companies in the broadcast, pro audio and consumer industry such as Digidesign/AVID, TC Electronic, SSL and Grimm Audio just to name a few. In the late 1990s he decided to become self employed and founded his own distribution company.

Bart van der Laan

COO

Bart’s extensive knowledge and experience in embedded software development and digital signal processing allow Kii to swiftly embrace and master the latest technologies. All Kii technologies are designed in-house and rely on the synergy between Bruno and Bart, a combination that proved itself successful for over a decade in several other companies. Audio and technology have always been part of his life. In 2011 he started his own company offering design services for manufacturers of electronics. A growing interest in the business side drove the decision to co-found Kii and take charge of the trajectory between hardcore engineering and sales. Every Kii product will grow up and leave the factory under Bart’s supervision in his role as COO.

Tom Jansen

Director of Product Management

Music, recording studios and instruments have been the main obsession throughout all of Tom´s life, while his formal education in architecture and design fueled a deeper interest in how people interact with and use audio gear, as well as how it´s design and features can improve this experience. In the last 10 years he has done architectural acoustic consulting and studio design, organized his own tradeshow for high end audio gear and finally joined forces with Chris Reichardt as product manager in his audio distribution company. Meeting Bruno and Bart during this time as product manager for their former works such as the LS1 made a deep impression and left him with the will to dedicate his work to their future ideas of audio innovations for the pro and hifi world with Kii Audio.

Wim Weijers

Business Development Director HiFi EU/US

Business Development Director HiFi EU/US

To achieve the best possible sound reproduction, has always been one of the main goals in Wim’s life! Since 1991 Wim has been active in Audio. Developing skills in modifying and improving audio equipment is a true passion of Wim, and this made him found his own company modifying audio equipment. On his further search for the best possible sound, Wim found Bruno, Bart, Chris and Thomas. Meeting these guys was the same as seeing the light for Wim! Sharing the same desire to achieve the best possible sound reproduction, was the ultimate goal.

Jean-Baptiste «aka JB» Lierre

Business Development Director Pro Audio

Business Development Director Pro Audio

JB’s three decades of experience in the audio industry started in recording studios in London in 1985. He worked in top recording studios, learning sound engineering from some of the industry’s legends, before moving to Hilton Sound, the EU’s largest pro-audio rental network at the time. He worked there for five years in the early 90s, adding commercial experience to the technical expertise acquired as a sound engineer. In 1995, JB founded his own distribution company, Juke Box Limited, in Paris, France.

For the next 20 years, his company imported and distributed over 25 iconic brand names including SSL, Universal Audio, Manley, Avalon Design, Eventide, Empirical Labs, Royer Labs, and the list goes on. As of 2015, JB has been working as an international freelance audio sales consultant, helping high end boutique pro-audio and hi-fi manufacturers boost their international sales.

Working with Kii Audio is a perfect fit for JB’s desire to represent boutique brands dedicated to creating industry-leading equipment. JB has described the Kii brand as embodying innovation, quality and aesthetics in probably the most advanced speakers ever made. JB brings 35 years of passion and expertise with him in his representation of Kii Audio, as well as his single goal: To work with the best products and the best manufacturers, retailers and customers.

Niklas Zawada M.A.

Business Process Manager

As Business Process Manager, Niklas Zawada has already gained intensive insights into the company Kii Audio GmbH during his part-time bachelor’s and master’s degree programs. During this time, he was able to get to know all internal and external processes through the implementation of the new ERP system, as well as contribute significantly to future-oriented process and business management improvements. After completing his studies, Niklas Zawada saw an ideal opportunity to contribute his knowledge and business management visions to the up-and-coming, successful and young company. Not only the exceptional position of Kii Audio GmbH in the audio industry, but also the possibility of fundamental and comprehensive insights as well as personal responsibility and impact opportunities in the future development of this innovative and internationally positioned company motivate him immensely. Niklas Zawada is currently Business Process Manager at Kii Audio, responsible for all purchasing activities and further internal business processes.

Patrick Hendriks

Director of Quality Control

After finishing the SAE in Rotterdam, Patrick worked as a live sound engineer at various venues. Interested in the hardware side of the business, he decided to get his bachelor’s degree in electronics at the HAN university. There, his focus shifted to power electronics and class D amplifiers; knowledge he applied at an innovative company designing automotive power train solutions. He became lead electronics designer and obtained a Master’s degree in control systems. Being an audio enthusiast, as well as an engineer, Patrick realized that the Kii Three achieved its exceptional quality due to hardcore engineering. At Kii Audio Patrick combines his engineering qualities with his love for music and is teaming up with Bruno and Bart to expand Kii’s future portfolio.

Jed Allen

Sales Manager Professional Audio

At college studying Piano Tuning and Technology, Jed discovered his love for all things musical was better served in the electronic side of the industry. Then having worked in Music Instrument retail in various stores in London Jed also found out that he enjoyed working in the business side of the Industry. After working for Roland UK as a sales manager for a number of years, the emerging computer-based audio recording was the obvious market for the future. He then worked for Digidesign/Avid running UK and then EMEA sales before working for Universal Audio for 6 years running their International sales. As DSP has dramatically changed the recording market Jed believes that the combination of great cabinet design, the latest in DSP and Class D amplifiers that Kii Audio represents will drive this change in the professional monitor market.

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Bluetooth

Bluetooth is a wireless communication protocol that allows to stream music directly from mobile devices like phones or tablets.

Bluetooth

Bluetooth is a wireless communication protocol that allows to stream music directly from mobile devices like phones or tablets.