William Demant
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| William Demant Holding | |
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| Type | Public (OMX: WDH) |
| Founded | 1904 |
| Headquarters | Smørum, Denmark |
| Key people | Lars Nørby Johansen (Chairman of the board), Niels Jacobsen (President and CEO) |
| Industry | Health care |
| Products | Hearing aids, audiometric equipment |
| Revenue | DKK 5,488 million (2007)[1] |
| Profit | ▲ DKK 895 million (2007)[1] |
| Employees | 5,070 (2007)[1] |
| Website | www.wdh.dk |
The William Demant Holding Group (OMX: WDH) is a leading international hearing health care company within hearing aids, audiometric equipment, and personal communication.
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[edit] Beginning
The William Demant Holding Group was founded in 1904 by Hans Demant, under the name Oticon. After his death in 1910, his son William Demant took over.
Already before World War I, Oticon increased its sales volume to cover Scandinavia and Saint Petersburg. In the twenties and thirties, a network of agents was established in Europe.
During World War II, Oticon started its own production due to the scarcity of goods from other countries.
In 1957, William and his wife Ida Emilie donated the Demant family's shares in the company to the Oticon Foundation. The Oticon Foundation's general aim is charity with particular emphasis on helping people with a hearing impairment and today the Oticon Foundation is the main shareholder in William Demant Holding A/S with a holding of app. 61%.
[edit] International expansion
During the 1990's the company expanded further, buying the Swiss hearing aid manufacturer Bernafon, Phonic Ear, the headset manufacturer DanaCom and Interacoustics.
In 1995 the company was listed at the Copenhagen Stock Exchange.
In 1997 it was it was decided to change the name of the parent company from Oticon Holding A/S to William Demant Holding A/S, due to the fact that it was considered disadvantageous to use the same name, both for the Group, and for one of its businesses.
Today the company is led by President & CEO, Niels Jacobsen and board chairman Lars Nørby Johansen.
Today the company focuses on 3 separate business units
Hearing Aids: Oticon & Bernafon
Diagnostic Instruments: Maico Diagnostics & Interacoustics
Personal Communication: Phonic Ear & Sennheiser Communications
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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