Sonos appoints Tom Conrad as its new CEO
Sonos, the renowned audio technology company, has announced that Tom Conrad will be taking on the role of permanent CEO, effective immediately. Conrad, who has been serving as interim CEO since January, has proven himself to be a valuable asset to the company, stabilizing it after a troubled period.
With over three decades of experience in consumer technology, Conrad brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the table. He has a vision for Sonos' future that involves harnessing technology advancements, including AI, to benefit customers, drive innovation, and unlock new opportunities as the landscape evolves.
Conrad's tenure at Sonos marks a shift in focus from rebuilding and fixing past issues to imagining and creating the next generation of user experiences. He aims to deliver ever-improving product and software quality, setting higher standards for performance and reliability.
Under Conrad's leadership, Sonos has made significant strides. The company has launched innovative new products such as the Sonos Ace headphones and the Arc Ultra soundbar, and has cleared a robust new product pipeline. The Sonos app has been improved, addressing software issues and enhancing the user experience.
Prior to his tenure at Sonos, Conrad served as the CEO of Zero Longevity Science, where he drove growth for its subscription digital health platform from 2021 through 2024. He was also the vice president of product at Snap Inc., where he oversaw numerous product innovations that solidified Snapchat as a leader in the social media landscape.
At Pandora, Conrad helped scale the service to tens of millions of users and revolutionized how the world discovers and listens to music. He served as the chief technology officer and executive vice president of product, and was among the original creators of the music streaming service.
Conrad's career began at Apple, where he built the foundational user interface of the Macintosh. He holds a B.S.E. in computer engineering from the University of Michigan.
Julius Genachowski, chair of the Sonos Board, stated that Conrad is the best person to lead Sonos into its next chapter. Genachowski praised Conrad's ability to earn broad confidence in a short time, and his accomplishments, which include improving the Sonos app, launching key new hardware, and restoring urgency and commitment within the company.
Conrad's appointment as permanent CEO comes after a successful stint as interim CEO, during which he focused on cutting distractions, reorganizing teams, and restoring trust with customers, employees, and shareholders. His leadership has resulted in clarity, focus, and momentum at Sonos.
With Conrad at the helm, Sonos is looking towards the future, aiming to create more immersive, intelligent, and seamlessly integrated experiences for customers.
[1] Sonos Announces Tom Conrad as Permanent CEO (Sonos Press Release, [link]) [2] Sonos Interim CEO Tom Conrad on Rebuilding Trust After a Troubled App Redesign (The Verge, [link]) [3] Sonos Ace and Arc Ultra: New Products Launched under Tom Conrad's Leadership (Engadget, [link]) [4] Sonos' Climb Back: How Tom Conrad is Restoring the Company's Reputation (CNBC, [link])
- Tom Conrad, as the newly appointed permanent CEO of Sonos, aims to leverage technology advancements, such as AI, to drive innovation and unlock new opportunities for the company in the ever-evolving business landscape.
- With over three decades of experience in consumer technology, Conrad's leadership at Sonos has led to significant strides in the company, resulting in the launch of innovative products, improved software quality, and a renewed focus on creating the next generation of user experiences.
