CHESTER, Va. - Carl Zeiss Sports Optics has hired Michael A. Jensen as its Vice President of Sales and Marketing as the company continues its aggressive expansion in the North American market. Jensen joined Zeiss on April 11 and, after a brief training period, he will take full responsibility for all sales and marketing functions for Carl Zeiss Sports Optics in the United States.

"Mike has a very strong background in premium optics and firearms, extensive experience in all of our sales channels as well as excellent customer relations, and we are pleased to have recruited him," said Erik Schumacher, President of Carl Zeiss Sports Optics. "This move further strengthens our fine sales and marketing team and gives me the opportunity to focus more of my time on product and business development, our international business, and continued collaboration with our colleagues in Germany as we grow our business here and abroad."

Jensen brings more than 25 years of experience in the hunting and shooting sports to his role at Carl Zeiss. Prior to joining the Zeiss team, he was Vice President of Distribution Sales with The Freedom Group Family of Companies, served as Vice President of Sales and Marketing of Marlin Firearms Co., served as General Manager of the Sigarms Hunting Division and spent seven years as a Sales Manager with Swarovski Optik NA Ltd. In his new role with Carl Zeiss, Jensen will also assume direct responsibility for selected key accounts.

"Carl Zeiss Sport Optics is a remarkable company with award-winning products and a brand presence that is second to none," said Jensen. "I am excited to bring my years of firearms and optical industry experience together in this new role as I help lead this talented team and build market share."

To further strengthen the sales team, Barton Dobbs has been promoted to Sales Manager West and he will report to Tony Trani, Director of Sales


About Carl Zeiss:

Carl Zeiss is an international group of companies in the optical and optoelectronic industries. The company has representatives in more than 30 countries. Carl Zeiss is a stock corporation which is wholly owned by the Carl Zeiss Stiftung (Carl Zeiss Foundation).

The products and services from Carl Zeiss set the standards in the Medical and Research Solutions, Industrial Solutions and Lifestyle Products markets. The ZEISS brand has stood for innovative ideas, precision and quality for more than 160 years. Around 13,000 employees work for Carl Zeiss around the world. During fiscal year 2009/10, they generated revenues of EUR 2.98 billion. As part of the Carl Zeiss Group, Carl Zeiss Sports Optics is responsible for sales, marketing and distribution of its state-of-the-art binoculars, spotting scopes, riflescopes and laser rangefinders throughout the United States and Canada.


For more information, visit: zeiss.com/sports or call 1-800-441-3005.