Dalporto, Martin, and Hicks to the Helm of Guitar Center

Guitar Center announced several leadership changes, with Gabriel Dalporto taking on the role of CEO, replacing Ron Japinga, who had served as president and CEO since 2016. The company did not provide a reason for Japinga’s departure.

Tim Martin has returned as the Chief Financial Officer at the musical instrument retailer. Martin previously held the CFO role at Guitar Center from 2012 to 2022 and brings over 25 years of experience in the retail industry.

Ken Hicks was appointed as the chairman of the board. Hicks, with over 40 years of experience, currently serves as the executive chairman of Academy Sports and Outdoors and was previously the president and CEO of Foot Locker. These leadership changes are effective immediately.

These changes bring Dalporto, Martin, and Hicks to the helm of a retailer with more than 300 physical stores under the Guitar Center brand and a digital business. Guitar Center also owns Music & Arts, specializing in school band and orchestra instruments, and Musician’s Friend, an e-commerce retailer.

Dalporto has been a member of Guitar Center’s board of directors since 2018. The company’s equity investor group, including Ares Private Equity Group, The Carlyle Group, and Brigade Capital Management, praised Dalporto’s leadership and skillset, particularly in areas critical to advancing the company’s strategic initiatives. Dalporto also serves on LendingTree’s board of directors and has previously held various C-suite roles in the consumer finance marketplace.

Japinga joined the company in 2014 and became president and CEO in 2016. During his tenure, the retailer filed for and emerged from bankruptcy, reducing approximately $800 million in debt through restructuring.

Tim Martin returned as CFO after leaving last summer to take on a dual COO and CFO role at Torrid Holdings. He exited that position eight months later in May. Guitar Center did not disclose who handled CFO responsibilities during Martin’s absence and did not respond to requests for comment. Bloomberg Law reported in February that Kyle Richter of Berkeley Research Group served as interim CFO during that time.

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