Stephen Schmidt will retire from Casio America at the end of September, the company announced Thursday.
Schmidt currently works as VP of the Electronic Musical Instruments (EMI) division for the company, a position he’d held since 2009. At his retirement, he will have 19 years of experience overall with Casio. Following Schmidt’s retirement, Brian Piccolo, currently GM of sales for the EMI division, will assume Schmidt’s responsibilities.
Casio America CEO Yusuke Suzuki had nothing but praise and admiration for Schmidt’s tenure.
“Stephen has been a vital part of Casio America’s success in the music industry,” he said. “His leadership and vision have helped shape our Electronic Musical Instruments division, driving innovation, expanding our market reach, and strengthening our reputation for delivering outstanding products. We are deeply grateful for his contributions and wish him all the best in his retirement.”
As VP of the EMI, Schmidt oversaw the development and marketing of Casio’s award-winning musical instrument lines. These include the Privia and Celviano digital pianos, as well as the Casiotone portable keyboards.
Furthermore, Schmidt contributed to several key initiatives across other divisions, including the U.S. launch of the Oceanus watch line, the development of Casio’s jewelry channel, and the introduction of new business ventures such as the Tryx digital camera and slim projectors.
In the musical instrument space, Schmidt made a lasting impact as well, contributing to three standout product launches, including two high-profile “Beyond Sound” events for the XW synth series—featuring The Crystal Method and Karmen—and the 2015 launch of the Grand Hybrid piano at Lincoln Center. Most recently, he supported the 2022 release of the Privia PX-S7000, a flagship product that redefined digital piano design for the modern lifestyle.
He began his career at Casio America as VP of sales, supporting all major divisions including watches, calculators, digital cameras, business projectors, digital pianos, and portable keyboards. In this role, he managed independent and regional accounts nationwide, providing strategic guidance and driving growth across a diverse network of retail partners.
Schmidt, looking back on his career, was blissful.
“We continue to bring musical instruments to market for everyone, wherever they may be in their musical journey, from beginners to professionals,” he said. “It is incredible to see how the music created through these instruments has changed lives, and it has been a joy to be part of that process.”
