MESA, Ariz., Aug. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Zounds, Inc., a designer, manufacturer, and retailer of high performance hearing aids, today announced it has named John Costello as Chief Executive Officer, President, and Director. Costello is a world class retailer, marketer, and leader with over 25 years of general management, consumer products, retailing, and technology leadership experience, helping companies manage through high change environments from start-ups to $80 billion companies. Costello succeeds company founder and current CEO, Sam Thomasson, who will now serve as Vice Chairman and remain as a Director.
Widely recognized as one of the country's foremost brand builders and involved in some of the most visible turnarounds and successful marketing campaigns, Costello most recently served as Vice Chairman of Pay By Touch, a leading technology company in biometric authentication and marketing solutions for retail and financial transactions. Prior to that, he served as Executive Vice President of Merchandising and Marketing for The Home Depot, the nation's top home improvement chain, where he helped drive overall business performance under the "You can do it. We can help." campaign.
Costello was also the Senior Executive Vice President of Sears, where he was a key member of the team that revitalized Sears with its "Softer Side of Sears" marketing campaign. Costello began his career at The Procter & Gamble Co. where he held numerous senior marketing and brand management positions including the development of the "Fighting Cavities Is The Whole Idea Behind Crest" campaign. In addition, Costello played instrumental management and marketing roles at Pepsi-Cola USA, Yahoo!, Mvp.com, and Nielsen Marketing Research. Zounds used Heidrick & Struggles executive search firm for Costello's placement.
"We are extremely pleased to bring John aboard as a leader of the Zounds team," said Sam Thomasson, Founder and Vice Chairman of Zounds. "He brings with him a wealth of experience and formidable business instincts that will help further position our brand and retail stores as we continue to grow nationally."
Among his many accolades, Costello has been named one of the 30 Most Influential People in Marketing by Advertising Age, one of the Top 10 Merchants by DSN Retailing Today and was elected to the Retail Marketing Hall of Fame in 1997.
About Zounds
Zounds designs, manufactures, and retails high performance hearing aids for use with mild, moderate, and severe hearing impairments. Zounds hearing aids use highly advanced noise cancellation, directional microphones and 16 frequency bands to eliminate up to 90 percent of unwanted noise, while individual voices are able to come through in high-fidelity. In addition, this feedback cancellation technology virtually eliminates the painfully common problems of squealing and whistling that occur with other hearing aids. Headquartered in Mesa, Arizona, the company's technology enables break-throughs in product performance, price, and purchase process. Zounds utilizes a combination of internally developed research and exclusive, licensed technology developed by Acoustic Technologies. For more information, please visit www.ZoundsHearing.com.
Zounds, Inc.CONTACT: Brian Downey, +1-212-355-0400, or bdowney@auletta.com, or JasonSolomon, +1-212-355-0400, or jsolomon@auletta.com, both of R.C. Auletta andCompany, for Zounds, Inc.
Web site: http://www.ZoundsHearing.com/
