CEO Panel

Our Panelists

As Vice President of U.S. Commercial Sales, Kyle Acker, AuD leads Starkey’s U.S. Managing Directors and the sales team. He is responsible for developing and aligning Starkey’s sales strategies and growth objectives in the United States. Over the course of his career, Acker has invested time and talent in many aspects of the hearing industry, building an intimate understanding of the challenges providers face and how to support them in solving those challenges. He completed his B.S. in Industrial Hygiene and Organizational Leadership and Supervision and his M.S. and Au.D. in Audiology at Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN.

Alessandro Bonacina is the Executive Vice President (EVP) of Amplifon Americas, overseeing business and operations across the United States, Canada, and Latin America.

As EVP, Alessandro is responsible for Amplifon Americas family of brands, including Miracle-Ear and Amplifon Hearing Health Care in the United States, Amplifon in Canada, and GAES in Latin America.

Collectively, Amplifon Americas is comprised of more than 1,800 employees dedicated to serving the diverse needs of its customers at more than 1,800 locations across the region, empowering people with hearing loss to rediscover all the emotions of sound through a powerful combination of leading-edge technology and high-quality care.

Over the course of his 9-year tenure at Amplifon, Alessandro rapidly rose through the ranks, starting his career as the Marketing and Product Director for Amplifon Italy, then Global Chief Marketing Officer, and finally as Global Retail Officer, before moving to Minnesota, where he took on his current role as EVP of Amplifon Americas. Alessandro’s role was also recently expanded to include management of Latin America.

Prior to joining Amplifon, Alessandro held various marketing and engagement roles at Vodafone Italia, Sky Italia, and McKinsey & Company, with responsibilities ranging from marketing, sales, and strategic consultancy across different geographies, with a particular focus in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

Alessandro holds a degree in Business Administration from Bocconi University in Milan. He also serves as President of the Board for the Miracle-Ear Foundation, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization with a mission to provide free hearing aids to individuals who could otherwise not afford them across the country. Since its founding in 1990, the Miracle-Ear Foundation has donated more than 40,000 hearing aids to more than 21,000 individuals nationwide.

Residing in Minneapolis, Minnesota with his wife and two children, Alessandro enjoys travelling and discovering the country with his family, particularly enjoying a variety of water sports in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.

Originally from London, England, Mayer earned his bachelor’s degree in Economics at the University of York, and furthered his executive education at the Management School of St. Gallen in Switzerland, and INSEAD in Paris, France. He has worked in the hearing healthcare industry for 20 years and considers himself a ‘lifer’. He has 2 noisy girls, Harriet and Martha, and is married to Jody who has the patience of a saint.

David joined GN as Managing Director of GN Hearing Canada joined GN Hearing in January 2019, overseeing several different channels. Under his leadership, GN Hearing Canada experienced significant growth and an increase in business owner relationships. In October 2022, David was promoted to the role of President of Beltone North America.

David started off his career in Sales and has been working in the hearing industry for 18 years. He held several different positions within the industry. From 2005 to 2009, at leading hearing healthcare organization, Oticon, he led growth efforts in both a Business Development Manager role and a National Sales Manager role. From 2009 to 2019, David also successfully built the largest Audiological Diagnostic business in Canada, DiaTec, starting out in a National Sales Manager role, being promoting to Vice President of Business Development, and rising to the position of General Manager.

David has a background in Business Administration/Management and his strong leadership skills, solid talent management expertise, and unwavering commitment to hearing care professionals and those in the hearing loss community are a testament to his role.

David splits his time between the US and Canada and enjoys summers at his cottage with his spouse and three children.

As President of Widex USA , Søren Hvidberg Nielsen leads the organization’s efforts to deliver the most natural sound and the highest levels of service and support to hearing care professionals across the United States. Leveraging a track record of success, he always starts with the customer and their needs and is highly focused on how his team is doing and delivers on our promises. Søren previously served in Widex Global leadership for four years as Global Chief Marketing Officer and also as Regional Vice President of Sales and General Manager for Widex companies in Northern Europe. Søren’s vision, experience, and dedication to outstanding customer service developed throughout his career help to not only maintain but improve upon the technology, training, and support customers have come to expect from Widex.

Mike joined Signia in 2020 from Essilor of America, the world’s leading ophthalmic lens manufacturer, where he served first as Vice President of Strategic Accounts and then as Vice President and General Manager responsible for overseeing of 23 manufacturing laboratories, developing new models for enhancing customer experience, and leading a large sales team. Prior to this, he held sales and business unit management positions at Dentsply North America and AT&T Wireless Services. Throughout his career, Mike has regularly been recognized as a top performer and, more importantly, a team leader.
Mike brings more than 20 years of customer-focused, brand-centric experience to help grow Signia. He truly understands how to listen and respond to customer needs for brand-based sales and business development programs that meet their ever-evolving objectives.

Gary Rosenblum has been President of Oticon, Inc. since October of 2016. Gary is responsible for leading the US Oticon organization consisting of its sales, marketing, customer experience, training, audiology and business development teams. He brings a rich understanding of how customers and consumers are adapting to a changing healthcare environment. Prior to Oticon, Gary ran several medical device and consumer healthcare businesses for Fortune 500 companies including Johnson & Johnson, Abbott Labs, and Pfizer. Gary earned his MBA from Cornell University and his BA in Psychology and History from Washington University in St. Louis.
In 2021, Gary assumed Chairmanship of the Hearing Industries Association, the national trade association representing global manufacturers advancing hearing technology, public policy, patient safety and education.

Delain Wright has dedicated his career to the Hearing Care Industry. With a global perspective and experience spanning several decades, Delain has had the privilege of working at the executive level for industry companies, such as Rexton, Siemens, Panasonic, America Hears, and currently leads business development efforts in hearing at Intricon.
Throughout his journey, Delain has gained expertise in various aspects of the Hearing Care Industry. From his roots in dispensing, he has also gained valuable experience in manufacturing, design, business development, and channel management, allowing him to delve deep into the inner workings of this specialized field. His comprehensive understanding and practical knowledge have enabled him to navigate the industry with a unique perspective and a forward-thinking vision for its changing landscape.
Notably, Delain has emerged as an early adopter and passionate advocate of over-the-counter hearing solutions. Recognizing the potential and benefits of this emerging trend, he wholeheartedly embraces what OTC can do to enhance the lives of millions of individuals. As one of the pioneers in this space, Delain played an instrumental role in integrating over-the-counter hearing solutions, advocating for accessibility and affordability for all Americans.
Currently, Delain leads business development in the Hearing division at Intricon, a cutting-edge company specializing in hearing solutions. Additionally, Intricon is a Joint Manufacturing Partner of Class 1, 2, and 3 Medical devices for some of the world's largest medical companies. Leveraging his industry knowledge, Delain is dedicated to advancing the company's mission of providing groundbreaking solutions for individuals with hearing impairments.