Guitar Center Appoints New President

Guitar Center Inc. has appointed a new president to oversee all aspects of the company’s operations. Ron Japinga joined the Westlake Village specialty retailer in July 2014 when he served as executive vice president for supply chain and private brands. Japinga took the president position effective June 15. “With 32 years of successful retail management and leadership experience at a variety of companies, Ron has accumulated a vast knowledge of retailing. He has proactively shared this expertise throughout our company, well beyond his official areas of responsibility, to positively influence Guitar Center’’s performance,” Webb said in a statement. “We all look forward to working with Ron in this new position.” Prior to joining Guitar Center, Japinga worked at West Marine, a boating supply and fishing retail chain in Watsonville, where he served as executive vice president of merchandising. Guitar Center currently has more than 270 locations nationally, and is among the nation’s largest retailers of guitars, amplifiers and other instruments and equipment. Valley region locations include the company’s flagship in Westlake Village and outlets in Northridge, Sherman Oaks and Palmdale.