Eden Prairie, Minnesota (June 20, 2024) – Today, Starkey’s President and CEO, Brandon Sawalich, celebrates his 30-year milestone in the hearing industry, marking three decades with the company. During this time, Sawalich has significantly contributed to advancing global hearing health and enhancing the quality of life for countless individuals, in addition helping to reduce hearing aid stigma.
"Describing my 30-year career at Starkey as ‘rewarding’ would be an understatement. Witnessing firsthand the impact of our innovations on people's lives fuels my passion every day, which is something I have modeled after Bill Austin’s dedication and career of caring,” said Sawalich. “The future of the hearing industry is incredibly promising, and I am dedicated to leading with innovation to meet the evolving needs of our customers and the patients they serve. By integrating advanced technologies like artificial intelligence and health and wellness features into our hearing solutions, we are not just improving hearing but also enhancing overall quality of life."
Sawalich held 10 positions at Starkey before his appointment to president and CEO. His extensive experience across various roles has given him a comprehensive understanding of the industry, enabling him to propel Starkey as a leader in hearing innovation and technology. Under his leadership, Starkey pioneered the incorporation of integrated sensors in hearing aids and was the first to utilize artificial intelligence and health and wellness technology in hearing health products. Sawalich remains committed to bringing cutting-edge products and solutions to market.
Throughout his career, Sawalich has focused on delivering the best customer service in the industry. He understands that customized service, professional evaluation, and state-of-the-art technology must seamlessly come together to serve each unique customer effectively. This dedication to exceptional customer service earned him the honor of Executive of the Year in the 2023 Excellence in Customer Service Awards, presented by the Business Intelligence Group.
In 2019, Sawalich was named to the George W. Bush Presidential Center’s Executive Advisory Council, and in 2020, he joined Medical Alley’s Board of Directors. He is also a longtime supporter of Special Olympics Minnesota and was elected to the organization’s Board of Directors in 2014 and again in 2024.
To celebrate his anniversary, Brandon sat down with Dave Fabry, Starkey’s Chief Hearing Health Officer, for a special episode of Starkey Sound Bites to answer 30 questions. The episode featuring Sawalich is now available on all major podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts. Listen here or watch the video version here.
About Starkey
Starkey is a privately held, global hearing technology company headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. Founded by Bill Austin in 1967, Starkey is known for its innovative design, development and distribution of comprehensive digital hearing systems. Led today by President and CEO Brandon Sawalich, Starkey is the only American-owned provider of hearing technologies. The company has more than 5,000 employees, operates 29 facilities and does business in more than 100 markets worldwide. Learn more at starkey.com.
