STAMFORD, CT – HARMAN International Industries, Incorporated (NYSE:HAR), the premier connected technologies company for automotive, consumer and enterprise markets, announced that star French soccer/football player Raphael Varane, who plays for Spanish club Real Madrid and the French National team as a central defender, will serve as a Global Brand Ambassador for JBL®.
Beginning in September 2015, Varane will participate in global marketing and brand awareness programs for JBL's portfolio of audio products across consumer lifestyle, professional audio and automotive audio.
Varane was named one of the ten most promising young players in Europe for 2014 and also recognized among the three-man shortlist for the World Cup ‘Best Young Player’ award. His tenacity, precision and standout performance were evident when he represented France in the 2014 FIFA World Cup and embodies the quality and superior performance JBL stands for within the audio industry and beyond.
“Raphael’s energy, creativity, and passion for excellence make him an ideal athlete ambassador for the JBL brand,” said Ralph Santana, Chief Marketing Officer of HARMAN. “He is well respected globally for his commitment to performance under extreme conditions and his technical precision on the field – qualities that are synonymous with the JBL and HARMAN brands. Just as Raphael brings excitement to the game of soccer for fans, JBL impassions audiophiles with a superior listening experience. We’re thrilled to have Raphael as part of our ambassador team.
“As a professional athlete representing an entire nation on the field, every game needs to be my best game yet. There are many things that inspire me and help me focus during practice and as I prepare for a big game. My coaches, team mates, family, and music are among my top sources of inspiration to train and perform my best.” said Raphael Varane. “Music is a motivator for me and helps to bolster my energy and concentration as I prepare to play. JBL delivers amazing sound quality through their many products and are a perfect fit for my active lifestyle. I’m thrilled to join their brand ambassador program in an effort to share my passion for music and HARMAN products with others who use music to thrive.”
Varane joins a striking lineup of global figures serving as HARMAN brand ambassadors, including fellow soccer/football and World Cup champion, Jerome Boateng; two-time NBA All-Star, Damian Lillard; NBA All-Star and 2015 MVP, Stephen Curry; GRAMMY® Award-winning rock bands Maroon 5 and Linkin Park; global musician, producer, artist and humanitarian Quincy Jones, Indian film composer, record producer, musician, singer and philanthropist AR Rahman; and international piano superstar and United Nations Messenger of Peace Lang Lang.
“As one of the World Cup’s ‘Best Young Players,’ Raphael is on a fast-path to greatness in European sports and is already a role model among his fellow athletes and to soccer fans around the globe,” said Michael Mauser, President of HARMAN Lifestyle Audio Division. “We are excited to match Raphael’s passion, commitment and performance, as well as his use of music as a source of inspiration.”
About Raphael Varane
Raphael Varane was born on April 25, 1993 in Lille, France, and is a professional soccer/football player for Spanish Club Real Madrid and the French National team as a central defender. He was recently named one of the ten most promising young players in Europe for 2014 and also recognized among the three-man shortlist for the World Cup ‘Best Young Player’ award. Raphael was part of the 2014 UEFA Champions League Final and the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Raphael Varane has been represented by VIP-Consulting since 2011, and managed by Frank Hocquemiller, his exclusive image rights agent.
About HARMAN
HARMAN (harman.com) designs and engineers connected products and solutions for automakers, consumers and enterprises worldwide, including connected car systems; audio and visual products, enterprise automation solutions; and connected services. With leading brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon®, Mark Levinson® and Revel®, HARMAN is admired by audiophiles, musicians and the entertainment venues where they perform around the world. More than 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and connected car systems. The Company's software services power billions of mobile devices and systems that are connected, integrated and secure across all platforms, from work and home to car and mobile. HARMAN has a workforce of approximately 27,000 people across the Americas, Europe, and Asia and reported sales of $6.2 billion during the 12 months ended June 30, 2015. The Company’s shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol NYSE:HAR.