Consumer Electronics Association Elects Los Angeles Executive to 2006 Hall of Fame; Howard P. Ladd, Who Headed Concord Electronics, Sanyo U.S. and Fisher Corporation, To Receive Award.

ARLINGTON, Va. -- Howard P. Ladd, who launched Concord Electronics in the 1960s and introduced the Sanyo brand to the U.S. in the 1970s before becoming president of and chairman of Fisher Corporation, will join industry inventors, executives, editors and retailers in the prestigious Consumer Electronics Industry Hall of Fame. He will be formally inducted at the association's annual Industry Forum in San Francisco October 16-18, 2006.

Born in Providence and raised in Philadelphia, he graduated from The University of Pennsylvania, where he studied electrical engineering.

In 1959, Mr. Ladd formed Concord Electronics and designed a line of portable battery-operated tape recorders to be sold under the Concord brand name. Mr. Ladd's initial noteworthy contribution to consumer home entertainment occurred in the 1960s, when he developed and marketed the first reel-to-reel and stereo audio cassette recorders.

In 1970, he initiated the Sanyo brand in the U.S., and introduced one of the first portable radio cassette recorders, many stereo radio cassette boom boxes and all-in-one stereo compact music systems. These developments were significant contributors to the explosive growth of audio products in the home and on-the-go.

In 1976 (a few years after Fisher Radio's founder, Avery Fisher, retired), Mr. Ladd became the one and only president of the new Fisher Corporation, presiding over the development and powerful marketing of many new high fidelity audio and video products. During Ladd's presidency, the Fisher-brand regained its significance as the "first name in high fidelity" with number one market share in audio in the U.S. Near the end of 1987, when Sanyo Electric Inc. and Fisher Corporation merged to become the Sanyo Fisher (U.S.A.) Corporation Ladd retired from his full time management role in the electronics industry.

Joining Ladd in the 2006 Consumer Electronics Hall of Fame are: industry executives Jack Doyle of Pioneer America; John Roach of Radio Shack; Robert W. Galvin, who steered Motorola from 1959 to 1990; and Andrew Grove and Gordon Moore, two of the three co-founders of Intel. In addition to the Intel team (the third co-founder, Robert Noyce, was inducted in 2000), the judges chose the Emmy-award winning inventors of plasma displays for television - Dr. Donald Bitzer, Dr. Robert H. Willson, and the late Dr. H. Gene Slottow.

The 2006 class also includes Nick Holonyak Jr., inventor of light-cemitting diodes (LED), George Heilmeier, who invented liquid crystal displays (LCD), and retailer A.J. Richard. They join 97 other industry luminaries in the CEA Hall of Fame.

"The accomplishments of the individuals who are entering the Hall of Fame this year are simply amazing," said CEA President and CEO, Gary Shapiro. "Their inventions and leadership laid the groundwork for today's digital products and technologies, enhancing the way consumers around the world work, live and play."

About CEA:

The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) is the preeminent trade association promoting growth in the consumer technology industry through technology policy, events, research, promotion, and the fostering of business and strategic relationships. CEA represents more than 2,100 corporate members involved in the design, development, manufacturing, distribution and integration of audio, video, mobile electronics, wireless and landline communications, information technology, home networking, multimedia and accessory products, as well as related services that are sold through consumer channels. Combined, CEA's members account for more than $125 billion in annual sales. CEA's resources are available online at www.CE.org, the definitive source for information about the consumer electronics industry.

CEA also sponsors and manages the International CES - Defining Tomorrow's Technology. All profits from CES are invested into industry services including training and education, industry promotion, engineering standards development, market research, and legislative advocacy.