Electrosonic CEO Jim Bowie Stepping Down in June

Longtime leader of CI’s 2014 Integrator of the Year, who will become senior adviser, leaves impressive legacy, including global expansion and apprenticeship program.

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Electrosonic CEO Jim Bowie Stepping Down in June

Outgoing Electrosonic CEO Jim Bowie (left) launched an apprenticeship program in 2009. Sean McChesney went through the program in 2014.

Electrosonic CEO Jim Bowie is giving himself a going-away present for his 30th anniversary with the company.

Bowie announced he will step down as CEO at the end of June, but will “remain engaged with the company as a senior adviser to the Board of Electrosonic Group,” according to a company press release.

Bryan Hinckley will be promoted to president of Electrosonic Inc. and Sarah Joyce will continue her role as managing director of Electrosonic Limited. Executive chairman of the board Steve Leyland will lead the worldwide group until a new CEO is appointed.

Bowie joined Electrosonic’s London headquarters as an engineer in 1987 and moved to the U.S. in 1992 to open the company’s California flagship office. He was responsible for “some of Electrosonic’s signature technical achievements in the theme park industry,” according to the company’s announcement.

He negotiated the sale of the product R&D division to Extron and led the company through years of profitability as president/CEO. Bowie initiated Electrosonic’s apprenticeship program in 2009. Electrosonic earned CI’s Integrator of the Year honors in 2014, in part because of that innovative apprenticeship offering.

[Bowie] has made major contributions to the progress of Electrosonic, but what I appreciate most is both his loyalty to the company and the spirit of enterprise he brought to the business.

Robert Simpson, founder and director emeritus of Electrosonic

“We’re coming off an exceptional year in 2016, with a great backlog for 2017,” Bowie said in the announcement. “We have a very strong foundation, a very powerful leadership team, and a lot of talent, including young talent, which is so gratifying. I’m looking forward to seeing what the team will achieve in this next chapter of the Electrosonic story.”

Robert Simpson, founder and director emeritus of Electrosonic, said in the announcement Bowie “has made major contributions to the progress of Electrosonic, but what I appreciate most is both his loyalty to the company and the spirit of enterprise he brought to the business, following the approach that we took when Electrosonic started.”

Electrosonic celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2014. Bowie and Simpson reflected on global integration in a company history book published that year in celebration of the milestone.

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