April 11, 2005, CARLSBAD, CA—NAMM, the International Music Products Association, today announced that Betty Heywood will be the association’s new director of international affairs.

Heywood, former director of trade fairs for Messe Frankfurt is best known within the music products industry for launching and managing the Music China show since 2002. Additionally, Heywood managed a portfolio of nine events in Asia. Prior to that, Heywood worked as an event marketing manager for United News and Media’s Miller Freeman UK (CMP Media). Heywood has also worked with the Chinese National Circus as it toured through Austria and Germany. Heywood has a M.A. in Chinese Studies and American Studies from the University of Hamburg.

In her new position, the multi-lingual Heywood will focus on NAMM’s growing international role, fulfilling the organization’s mission outside of the United States and providing exceptional service to the association’s international Members, which now represent 20 percent of total Membership. Heywood, who is currently based in China, will relocate to Carlsbad, California by October 2005 and work out of the NAMM headquarters.

“NAMM is firmly committed to serving the international music products community, and to us that means speaking the languages, knowing the cultures and having first-hand real-world experience abroad,” said Joe Lamond, president and CEO, NAMM. “Betty has earned the respect of the industry though her work in China and we look forward to learning from her experience to provide the best possible service for our Members around the world.”

“I’ve had the privilege of working with many NAMM members over the past few years and I’m delighted to have the opportunity to join the NAMM team in its mission to serve the global music products industry,” said Heywood.

About NAMM
NAMM is the not-for-profit association that unifies, leads and strengthens the $16 billion international musical instruments and products industry. NAMM’s activities and programs are designed to promote music making to people of all ages. NAMM is comprised of more than 9,000 Member companies. For more information about NAMM, interested parties can visit www.namm.org or call 800-767-NAMM (6266).