Operations & Product Engineering Executive, Global Hardware

KURT MICHAEL SOLLAND

United States Global

********@****-****.*** +1-310-***-**** LinkedIn

VP / SVP OPERATIONS PRODUCT ENGINEERING HARDWARE SYSTEMS & MANUFACTURING EXECUTION

Executive operator specializing in scaling hardware businesses, restoring execution, and driving operational discipline across complex organizations. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Product and operations executive with 25+ years leading global hardware platforms from concept through mass production.

Proven in scaling execution, stabilizing product development pipelines, and aligning global supply chains with cost, quality, and delivery targets. Former Chief Design Vice President at Lenovo and HARMAN, contributing to platforms associated with $50B+ in annual revenue. Founder and operator of an international consumer brand with full ownership of product, manufacturing, and operational execution. Operating model: Full-stack ownership across product, engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain execution.

PLACEMENT SNAPSHOT

- VP / SVP Operations, Product Engineering, or General Management Leadership

- PE-backed, turnaround, or execution-focused environments

- Consumer electronics, connected devices, and hardware platforms

- Global manufacturing, sourcing, and supply chain ownership

- Cost optimization, yield improvement, and operational scaling

- Cross-functional leadership across product, engineering, and operations 2

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

VELA NOVA GmbH - Switzerland / United States

Co-Founder & Chief Product / Technology Officer 2022–Present velanovafragrance.com

Product Engineering, Manufacturing & Platform Execution

- Built and stabilized a scalable manufacturing and supplier ecosystem across North America, transitioning from early-stage production to repeatable, production-ready execution.

- Established operational and manufacturing systems supporting initial production scale and multi-market distribution.

- Led engineering, manufacturing, sourcing, tooling, and quality partners, owning technical decision-making from architecture through production.

- Directed manufacturing-led turnaround initiatives, replacing fragile artisanal processes with scalable supplier ecosystems and production-ready architectures.

- Balanced brand, cost, and operational discipline, aligning product vision with commercial execution and long-term scalability.

SOLLAND DESIGN LLC - United States

Founder & Principal – Product, Manufacturing & Technology Strategy 2006–Present sollandstudio.com

Fractional CPTO / CTO leadership for consumer electronics and hardware companies

- Brought in as fractional CPTO / CTO to stabilize product, engineering, and manufacturing organizations during scale, transition, and turnaround phases.

- Led multidisciplinary engineering teams (mechanical, manufacturing, and electronics-adjacent) to deliver scalable, production-ready product platforms.

- Specialized in connectivity products, embedded hardware systems, and platform-level integration, including control surfaces, across consumer and enterprise markets.

- Drove portfolio rationalization and turnaround initiatives, resolving cost, yield, supplier, and manufacturability challenges.

- Partnered directly with CEOs, COOs, CTOs, and PE operating partners to align product strategy with operational and financial realities.

- Architected the entire Definitive Technology Custom Install ecosystem, spanning architectural speakers, subwoofers, and modular CI systems designed for professional installer channels.

3

LENOVO - Worldwide

Chief Design Vice President – Mobile Internet Digital Home (MIDH) 2010–2013 Global consumer electronics, connected devices, platform leadership

- Executive leader for consumer electronics and connected device platforms within Lenovo’s Mobile Internet Digital Home division.

- Drove cross-functional alignment across engineering, sourcing, and manufacturing to support high-volume production and global delivery targets.

- Enabled platform reuse and manufacturing efficiency across SKUs, reducing cost and time-to-market.

- Delivered globally scalable hardware platforms supporting rapid portfolio expansion across multiple device categories.

- Contributed to platforms associated with $50B+ in peak annual revenue exposure, supporting Lenovo’s global device strategy.

- Played a leadership role in Lenovo Yoga, a category-defining, highly manufacturable 2-in-1 platform.

- Worked extensively across China, U.S., and EMEA engineering and manufacturing organizations, aligning global execution with product and platform strategy. HARMAN INTERNATIONAL - Los Angeles / New York

Chief Design Vice President – Global Design Center 2000–2010 High-volume consumer electronics, connectivity platforms, infotainment systems

- Established the global design direction and product language across JBL, Harman/Kardon, Infinity, and Mark Levinson, aligning brand identity with scalable product and technology platforms.

- Defined system-level design and product architecture frameworks spanning consumer audio, professional systems, and automotive infotainment, ensuring coherence across long product lifecycles.

- Executive leader across consumer electronics and connectivity platforms, balancing brand expression with engineering, manufacturability, cost, and supply-chain realities.

- Oversaw large, multidisciplinary global teams across industrial design, mechanical engineering, electronics integration, and manufacturing readiness.

- Led long-lifecycle platform development including JBL OnStage, JBL Creature, Soundsticks, and GLA-55, delivering sustained commercial performance.

- Directed connectivity and accessory platforms meeting Apple MFi, regulatory, and quality standards at global scale.

4

SELECT PLATFORMS & PRODUCTS

- Lenovo Yoga: Category-defining 2-in-1 hardware platform.

- JBL OnStage / Radial / Creature: Iconic, high-volume consumer audio platforms.

- Harman Kardon Soundsticks, GLA-55, Go+Play: Premium connectivity products.

- Definitive Technology: Entire Custom Install Platform (Architectural, in-wall, in-ceiling, outdoor and subwoofer systems designed as a unified CI ecosystem).

- VELA NOVA: Modular consumer product & packaging platforms.

- CHIMERA Adaptive I/O Platform: A new class of mechanical–electrical access control platform built for embedded and connected systems (MFi-certified). EDUCATION & CREDENTIALS

- B.S., Industrial Design: University of Washington

- Graduate Gemologist (GIA) : Gemological Institute of America INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

- Over 150+ US and International issued and pending patents across consumer electronics, connectivity hardware, and manufacturable product platforms OPERATIONAL FOCUS

- Manufacturing scale-up and supplier development

- Cost optimization and margin discipline

- Product development pipeline stabilization

- Cross-functional execution (engineering, sourcing, operations)

- Platform-based product architecture for scalability

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