Herb Baer Appointed President of Polar USA

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., April 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Polar (www.polarusa.com), the market leader and pioneer in heart rate training technology, today announced the appointment of Herb Baer as President of Polar USA.  In his role, Baer will be responsible for the overall direction and day-to-day operations of the company, overseeing all segments of the business including consumer fitness, running, cycling, physical education, club solutions, team sports and OEM.

Baer comes to Polar from Water-Jel Technologies, which manufactures and markets medical devices and over the counter products to major retailers, medical facilities, emergency workers, athletic trainers and the military.  There he served as Executive Vice President, North America.  Prior to joining Water-Jel Technologies, he spent close to two decades with Fujifilm USA, where he rose to a number of senior management positions in marketing and sales.  He eventually became the Vice President and General Manager for Fujifilm's Consumer Products Division with responsibilities for overall sales, marketing and operations.  During this time, he led Fuji to hold the majority share in several photo-related consumer product categories in the U.S.

Before Fujifilm USA, Baer worked in the world of sports, where he held positions within the New York Cosmos soccer team and the NFL's World League of American Football, later named NFL Europe.

Baer holds a Masters in Sports Management from Adelphi University and a dual Bachelor of Science in Economics and Human Kinetics from Rutgers University.

"Throughout his career, Herb has demonstrated a track record of continued success," said Malcolm Douglas, President, Global Sales, Marketing and Product, Polar Electro Group & Polar Electro Inc Chairman. "We are delighted to make this appointment. We believe Herb's business experience, coupled with his passion and training in professional sports, makes him a tremendous asset.  His expertise and vision will surely help Polar continue to grow our leadership position even further in the United States."

"I'm honored to be joining such a remarkable company that makes a difference in people's lives.  Polar is a trusted brand which is known as the original and ongoing pioneer in smart coaching, sports and fitness," said Baer.  "I'm confident that we will continue to lead the industry in quality, design and customer service, especially as we are poised to introduce several new breakthrough products this year."

About Polar
Headquartered in Lake Success, NY, Polar USA is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Finland-based Polar Electro OY, which invented the first wireless heart rate monitor (HRM) in 1977. Polar now operates internationally in more than 80 countries and its products are sold through 35,000 retailers globally. Polar heart rate and fitness assessment technology delivers unparalleled insight into the human body from valuable training guidance and feedback, to enabling individuals to improve their fitness level and sports performance. Polar technology is key to the success of leading fitness facilities, athletic teams, corporate wellness facilities, health insurance providers and thousands of physical education programs around the world. Today, Polar training computers are the number one choice among consumers worldwide. For more information, visit www.polarusa.com.

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SOURCE Polar