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Knowles Appoints Mike Polacek as President of Intelligent Audio

March 16, 2017

ITASCA, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar. 16, 2017-- Today, Knowles Corporation (NYSE: KN), a market leader and global supplier of advanced micro-acoustic, audio processing, and precision device solutions, announced that it has appointed Mike Polacek as its president of Intelligent Audio.

Reporting direct to the president and CEO, Polacek will be responsible for executing the Intelligent Audio business strategy to develop and deliver complete audio solutions to customers that leverage Knowles’ software, signal processing, and smart microphone technologies. Mike will succeed Paul Dickinson in this role, who is retiring at the end of March.

“Improved voice and audio quality and voice as a user interface are two important trends driving the need for Knowles’ audio solutions,” said Jeffrey Niew, president and CEO, Knowles Corporation. “Knowles’ capabilities in acoustics, software and signal processing are solving critical customer problems, and with Mike’s proven track record in accelerating business growth, I am confident that he is the right leader to help us deliver superior audio solutions in the mobile, ear and IoT markets.”

Mike comes to Knowles with significant technology industry experience including demonstrated success in strategic planning, corporate development and leading both established and emerging businesses to high- revenue growth. In addition to working at Philips Semiconductor (now NXP), he spent nearly 20 years at National Semiconductor where he held executive-level leadership roles for a variety of business units including system, software, analog and digital technologies. Mike’s most recent responsibility at National was to manage high-growth businesses, lead business incubation efforts, and manage mergers and acquisitions. Mike left National after Texas Instruments acquired the company in 2011. He then served as a strategic adviser for KKR Private Equity, and most recently was a partner with investment management firm Eachwin Capital. Mike graduated from the University of Illinois in Champaign with a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Engineering, and later received his Master of Business Administration degree from Santa Clara University.

“This is an exciting time for voice interfaces, and the capabilities enabled by microphones and local processing can improve human interaction in almost any electronic device,” said Mike Polacek, president of Intelligent Audio. “There is tremendous interest from all types of customers in the mobile, ear and IoT space, and, Knowles is well positioned to help these customers, as they desire a partner with recognized leadership in these markets and audio input applications.”

About Knowles Corporation

Knowles Corporation (NYSE: KN) is a market leader and global supplier of advanced micro-acoustic, audio processing, and precision device solutions, serving the mobile consumer electronics, communications, medical, military, aerospace, and industrial markets. Knowles uses its leading position in MEMS (micro-electro-mechanical systems) microphones and strong capabilities in audio processing technologies to optimize audio systems and improve the user experience in smartphones, tablets, and wearables. Knowles is also the leader in acoustics components used in hearing aids and has a strong position in high-end oscillators (timing devices) and capacitors. Knowles’ focus on the customer, combined with unique technology, proprietary manufacturing techniques, rigorous testing and global scale, enables it to deliver innovative solutions that optimize the user experience. Founded in 1946 and headquartered in Itasca, Illinois, Knowles has employees in 12 countries around the world. For more information, visit knowles.com.

Source: Knowles Corporation

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Roxanne Pipitone
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