Frank Van Houton
Managing Director

As the Managing Director of Gold Circle International, Frank van Houten will use his extensive background in international music marketing and sales along with his inter-cultural communication skills to provide strong global representation for the company and its artists, and to help Gold Circle become a recognized contender in the international music industry.

Born in Belgium, the diplomatic status of van Houten's father brought the family to the U.S., where they stayed for 17 years. After having completed his education in both the U.S. and The Netherlands, van Houten joined Dutch manufacturer, Rippen Piano Works, as a production and transportation planner in 1977, where he successfully managed five different departments in the manufacture and shipping of 120 pianos per week.

In 1987, van Houten joined A&M Records Europe, where he became the European Label Manager for Windham Hill Records based in Paris, generating a 10-20% increase in sales, annually.

In 1990 and based again in The Netherlands, van Houten became Windham Hill's General Manager for Europe, where he pioneered the establishment of a hand-picked European distribution network. After two years, he accepted the position of General Manager European and Latin American Operations. In his position, he supervised all marketing and budget operations, and also worked extensively with Bertelsmann Music Group to refine the company's marketing, sales and licensing operations in 36 countries.

After van Houten left Windham Hill, he accepted a position of Vice President International for Roadrunner International. There he expanded and amended the international distribution network for Roadrunner Records, resulting in a record turnover increase in a network covering 40 countries.

In 1998, van Houten was alerted to the fact that Gold Circle was interested in developing an international operation. He contacted the company and arranged to meet Norm Waitt, Jr., Michael Delich and Richard Musil at Midem '98. The four hit it off and, over the next several months, laid the foundation for the company's entry into the global marketplace.

Van Houten was attracted to Gold Circle because of its commitment to making and supporting good music, and to developing music products and marketing strategies tailored to specific cultural tastes-a key issue in international marketing to different countries. In his position, van Houten will represent the interests of Gold Circle outside of the U.S., Canada and Mexico, with a view toward achieving critical and commercial success for the company's artists in these territories. Specifically, he will be establishing and managing distribution and licensing arrangements with carefully chosen partners in 40 countries, as well as handling the local signings of artists directly to Gold Circle International.

Van Houten's extensive travels have given him a solid understanding of what it takes to be successful in diverse cultures. As the Managing Director of Gold Circle International, he is guided by a philosophy that emphasizes mutual respect, shared benefits and open communication.