The Denon, Marantz, Boston Acoustics and McIntosh owner changes name and branding-- what was D&M Holdings is now D+M Group, complete with new logo, motto and slew of product announcements.

The company motto now says "Performance is Everything," while the logo consists of a "dimensional D" (symbolising video) and sound waves making the "M."

"We are transforming the company and embracing changes to re-invent ourselves. That's what great companies do. We are going to build D+M Group into a new products machine," CEO Jim Caudil says during the re-branding announcement.

The company also promises new consumer-style packaging, increased global marketing and additions to different product categories such as headphones and docking radios.

Veteran executive Steve Decker joins Milestone AV as President of Consumer Products, taking over worldwide consumer product sales including the Sanus brand.

The addition is part of Milestoe's separation of Commercial and Consumer product groups. Steve Durkee, who previously served as President Chief & Sanus products, is now President of Commercial Products.

The newly created role also covers Milestone’s consumer-oriented sales, marketing, product development and product management efforts in the US.

Decker has over 25 years of experience, including 20 years as a CE executive. His most recent position was with Kodak (running consumer and commercial business groups).

An engineer by background, Decker graduated from the University of Iowa and holds an MBA from the University of Indianapolis.

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Confederations of companies rarely outlast the onslaught of the group’s corporate accountants (especially when the new top management comes from a supply chain company like Flextronics).

The confederation known as Nortek will centralize all its nine residential brands under one new group with three business divisions to reduce product and R&D budgets and “deliver programs with higher impact.”

"We've joined the expertise and efficiency of the industry's most important technology brands and formed a new resource for our dealers that represents a unique opportunity for them to grow both ROI and competitive standing," says Sean Burke, group president of Nortek's technology products segment. "By synergizing the benefits of our brands under one centralized group, additional resources can be better allocated to product development and marketing." Not to mention the money that might drop to the bottom line.

Described by Boat International as "one of the world's most amazing super yachts, that could spell the future for efficient long range cruising", the striking 42.5m Trimaran Adastra has recently been launched for Hong Kong clients Anto and Elaine Marden.

The Adastra, a $15M yacht, is capable of traveling from London to New York while controlled via an app on its owner's iPad.

"Adastra" is the result of more than five years of design (and discussion with the owners) to make a viable luxury yacht from the “power trimaran” concept (previously only used by record-breakers who stripped-out trimarans for racing).

Adastra's 16 metre beam creates a spacious saloon area on the main deck which offers superb views through a panoramic window and holds a lounge area, dining table and navigation station. Adastra accommodates 9 guests and up to 6 crew members. The main helm station (seats two) is positioned in a raised pilot house situated between the aft deck and the saloon area and forms part of the cross beam structure.

Watch Adastra, $15M Yacht

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