Our Leadership

Gabe Dalporto

CEO

Gabe Dalporto joined the Guitar Center Company as Chief Executive Officer in 2023 and has served as a member of the Board since December 2018. Before the Guitar Center Company, Gabe was Chief Executive Officer of Udacity, Inc., an online provider of technology education programs from 2019 to 2022. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of LendingTree, a company where he has previously held various roles, including Chief Marketing Officer, President Mortgage & Chief Marketing Officer, and Chief Financial Officer.

He earned a BS in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Florida and an MS in Nuclear Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

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Tim Martin

Chief Financial Officer

Tim Martin serves as Chief Financial Officer of the Guitar Center Company. Tim returned to Guitar Center in 2023, previously serving as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer from 2012 to 2022. Prior to his return, Tim served as the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Torrid Holdings, Inc., a direct-to-consumer apparel, intimates, and accessories brand from 2022 to 2023. He previously served as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer of Land’s End from 2010 to 2012 and as Chief Financial Officer of Coldwater Creek from 2006 to 2009.

Tim graduated from the University of Colorado, Boulder, with a degree in accounting.

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Mike Schultheis

EVP & Chief Stores Officer

Mike Schultheis is EVP and Chief Stores Officer for Guitar Center, where he is responsible for the expansive store network. He guides strategic initiatives across our 300-plus stores and directs a team of 6,000 employees, including retail store operations associates, sales associates, music instrument repair technicians, and lesson instructors.

He brings over 30 years of a proven track record of optimizing operational efficiency, leading high-performing teams, and delivering EBITDA margins at well-known companies such as PetSmart, Office Depot, and Kmart. Prior to joining Guitar Center, he was the SVP of U.S. Stores at PetSmart where he led over 1500 stores alongside 45,000 associates. For 15 years he held various senior leadership roles in sales and operations, focusing on delivering record growth, profit generation, and organizational efficiency. Throughout his career, Mike has built selling cultures, managed service-based businesses, delivered deep product training and expertise, and propelled improvements in conversion. His customer-centric approach to enhancing profitability is supported by his results-driven, lead-from-the-front mindset.

Mike is a graduate of Adams State University with a degree in Marketing.

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Jerry Brandehoff

EVP, Chief Merchandising Officer

Jerry Bradenhoff is the EVP, Chief Merchandising Officer for Guitar Center and leads our merchandising organization, which encompasses buying, planning, and private label brands for our Guitar Center segment across all channels.

Before joining Guitar Center, Jerry was the Chief Merchant for Wayfair and held additional leadership roles during his tenure. He is a dynamic and inspirational retail executive with over 30 years of experience leading merchandising and product teams for world-class global brands like Gap Inc, PVH, and Williams Sonoma Inc. He has a proven track record of driving growth, innovation, and profitability across diverse product categories, markets, and channels.

Jerry plays a pivotal role in leading Guitar Center's strategic initiatives to drive newness and innovation, accelerating product launches. He sets the vision for continued growth by establishing the optimal product selection for each channel while managing inventory levels and the product lifecycle to ensure business performance. He also works across the organization to drive gross margin, revenue, market share, and customer satisfaction.

Jerry’s deep merchandising expertise and track record of success are his calling card for his leadership style. He’s dedicated to empowering teams, driving performance, and fostering collaboration. And his level of passion and enthusiasm for Guitar Center is infectious.

He is a graduate of the Ohio State University with a BA in History.

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Adolfo Rodriguez

EVP, Chief Technology & Information Officer

Adolfo Rodriguez is EVP, Chief Technology & Information Officer of the Guitar Center Company, where he is responsible for developing a comprehensive target state architecture and technology roadmap aligned with our strategic goals as a best-in-class omnichannel retailer. Prior to joining, he was the SVP of Technology Transformation at Advance Auto Parts, where he leveraged technology to improve customer and team member experiences across the company and led the Architecture, Engineering, and Customer Contact Center organizations. Before joining Advance, Adolfo served as Vice President of Product Management for the ShareFile cloud service at Citrix and as General Manager of several smaller cloud services. He was previously Distinguished Engineer and CTO of Connectivity and Integration at IBM and Chief Architect of DataPower SOA Appliances.

Adolfo holds a BA in Mathematics and BS, MS, and PhD degrees in Computer Science, all from Duke University. He is a graduate of the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics.

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Jeff Gottlieb

President of Music & Arts

Jeff Gottlieb assumed the role of President in April 2019 and is responsible for Music & Arts, the Guitar Center Company’s specialty retailer focused on band & orchestra instruments for sale and rental. He oversees over 200+ retail stores, 120+ educational representatives and 300+ affiliate locations. Jeff has extensive experience leading complex retail operations, including managing companies through strong growth initiatives. Prior to joining Music & Arts, Jeff held executive positions at Sur La Table and Jockey International, Inc

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Todd Lauer

SVP of Brand & Creative

Todd Lauer is SVP of Brand & Creative for Guitar Center, where he is responsible for leading the company’s marketing campaigns, visual merchandising, creative content, marketing research, organic social, and public relations. He plays a pivotal role in shaping Guitar Center’s brand identity, driving omni-channel customer engagement, and delivering consistent brand messaging across all marketing touchpoints.

With over 20 years of experience, Todd is an award-winning creative executive with extensive experience developing breakthrough marketing/advertising campaigns and product innovations for some of the world's top brands. Before joining Guitar Center, he was the Head of Creative for Empower, a financial planning company with over 19 million customers. Before that, Todd was the VP of Brand and Creative at LendingTree for over a decade, leading a top-performing in-house team that produced both award-winning brand creative and some of the best-performing digital marketing creative in the world.

Todd’s vision and leadership forge stronger connections with our customers, sharing the story of the iconic Guitar Center brand and its mission to inspire musicians at every stage of their journey.

He is a graduate of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

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Zac Bogart

SVP Digital Marketing

Zac Bogart is the SVP of Digital Marketing and joined the organization in January 2024. He oversees Guitar Center’s eCommerce channels, Contact Center, and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) team. He is a data-driven digital marketing executive with deep experience leading high-growth teams and has a significant background in the music industry and pro audio sector. Most recently, he was CMO at ConsumerAffairs, a rapidly growing online marketplace where millions of consumers research purchases, connect with brands, transact, write reviews, and stay updated on important news. Zac also served as Senior Director of Digital Marketing at Sweetwater, where he was responsible for building out the brand’s online footprint in the late 2010s, resulting in their accelerated digital growth. Additionally, he worked as Director of Customer Acquisition at Universal Audio. A graduate of the University of Washington, Zac is also an accomplished musician.

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Anne Buchanan

SVP, Chief Human Resources Officer

Anne Buchanan is the Senior Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer for the organization. She assumed the role in June 2018, and she is responsible for the organization’s human resources strategy and enabling the Guitar Center Company to attract, motivate, develop, and retain a diverse and inclusive workforce. Anne joined the company from Global Brands Group (GBG), where she led the human resources strategy for the fashion and retail business which included BCBG, BCBGeneration, bebe, Hervé Léger, Joe’s Jeans and Juicy Couture. Prior to GBG, Anne served as the SVP of Human Resources for BCBGMAXAZRIA Group, and has also served in various human resource roles with Smile Brands and Cadence Design Systems.

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