New Appointments at GEWA Music USA and Gretsch Drums

March 14, 2024

Rick Hall Appointed CEO of GEWA music USA, Terry Bissette Named Vice President of Drums & Percussion, Andrew Shreve joins the company as Director of Brand & Artist Relations for Gretsch Drums.

Gaithersburg/MD, USA, March 13, 2024 – GEWA music USA is proud to announce significant leadership enhancements within the company. As of January 1, 2024, Rick Hall has taken the helm as the new CEO, ushering in a new era of strategic growth and innovation. Complementing this leadership expansion, Terry Bissette has been appointed as the Vice President of Drums & Percussion, effective March 11, 2024. The previous CEO of GEWA music USA, Xia Jin has been promoted to President.

Left to right: Rick Hall, Terry Bissette, Andrew Shreve

Rick Hall’s appointment as CEO marks a pivotal moment in GEWA music USA’s trajectory towards becoming a leading company in the musical instruments industry. His vision for the company aligns with its core values of excellence, innovation, and quality. Terry Bissette, with his extensive background in sales, marketing, distribution and electronics within the drumming industry, is set to lead the Drums & Percussion division. His appointment is expected to reinforce GEWA music USA’s position in the market, manage the distribution of Gretsch Drums in North America and the inclusion of Schlagwerk as a key brand within the division. The expansion of the Drums & Percussion division will not only focus on sales and marketing but also on manufacturing excellence within Gretsch Drums, ensuring that the highest standards of quality and innovation are met. The division’s portfolio, featuring Gretsch Drums, Schlagwerk, and GEWA Digital Drums, is poised for significant growth and development under this new leadership.

Supporting the division’s ambitions, Andrew Shreve will manage Brand and Artist Relations, with Dave Anania working alongside Terry Bissette as “Salesman on the Road.” Additionally, Jim Stanek’s role as Customer Service and Inside Sales Drums & Percussion Manager will be crucial for upholding the company’s commitment to outstanding customer service.

Under the leadership of Rick Hall and Terry Bissette, we believe GEWA music USA is set to achieve unprecedented success and innovation, further solidifying its position in the North American music industry.

About GEWA MUSIC

Since its establishment in 1925, GEWA music has evolved into a premier developer and manufacturer in the musical instrument industry. With nearly a century-long history, this family-owned business has ingrained innovation, production, marketing, and distribution in its corporate DNA. GEWA music is a global market leader, serving retailers and distributors across virtually all musical instrument categories. The company is organized into distinct divisions: GEWA Keys, GEWA Strings, GEWA Guitars, GEWA Winds, and GEWA Drums, each specializing in the development, production, and marketing of specific instruments and accessories. Renowned for producing professional instruments such as string bow instruments, digital pianos, and digital drums, as well as specialized cases for musical instruments, GEWA takes pride in its “GEWA Made in Germany” line, produced at the company’s headquarters in Adorf, Germany. Products under “GEWA German Engineered” or “PURE GEWA” are expertly manufactured in GEWA’s own facilities in Asia. Since 2020 GEWA music is the proud owner of the renown and legendary guitar brand Ovation where production takes place in New Hartford, CT. The central warehouse of GEWA is strategically located at the headquarters in the heart of Europe, effectively meeting the demands of European and international distributors and retailers. In the USA the central North American logistics center is located in New Hartford, CT. GEWA’s extensive presence includes subsidiaries and offices in almost every European country, as well as the United States of America and China. The company’s global footprint extends to subsidiaries in Europe, the USA, and China, with a team fluent in over 14 languages, underscoring GEWA music’s commitment to fostering connections and innovation in the world of music.