IntriCon’s long-term investment in what it calls the “value hearing health market” is paying off in a big way with its recently signed agreement to distribute low-cost, high-performance hearing aid products through PC Werth Ltd in the United Kingdom. PC Werth has been appointed as one of the main suppliers to the National Health Service (NHS), the largest purchaser of hearing aids in the world, which provides an estimated 1.2 million hearing aids annually to people with hearing loss in the UK. IntriCon also announced it appointed Delain Wright, a well-known hearing industry executive, as vice president of business development to lead its foray into the value hearing health market.
“This is another meaningful milestone in our strategic plan to drive business in the value hearing health market,” said Mark Gorder, president and chief executive officer of IntriCon. “The NHS is widely recognized as the most efficient hearing aid delivery system in the world. We believe we are well positioned to serve their needs and we are working on technologies to further enhance efficiencies and standards in the future.”
PC Werth is the longest established and largest supplier of specialist products to hearing healthcare professionals in the UK. Under the agreement, PC Werth will distribute IntriCon hearing aid products under the Kamplex brand name. PC Werth will provide the required marketing, selling, training and service support. Said Tom Parker, managing director of PC Werth, “We are delighted to partner with IntriCon—our high-quality, low-cost hearing aids will provide more choices for clinicians and users across the United Kingdom.”
Wright, who previously served in senior executive positions with hearing aid makers Rexton, Siemens and America Hears, joined IntriCon as a consultant in 2013 to help the company position its hearing products and technologies for the emerging market for affordable hearing aids. “In this critical new role, Delain will work with the team to further develop and execute our strategic plan to grow and diversify our value hearing health business,” Gorder said.