Cesar Gueikian stands as the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Gibson Guitar Corporation, steering its leadership team with a wealth of experience. This team comprises seasoned executives proficient in global brand building, product development, commercial solutions, marketing and media, manufacturing and operations, finance, and human resources. Since joining Gibson in November 2018, Gueikian has been instrumental in driving transformative solutions across brand dynamics, team enhancement, product innovation, media evolution, the direct-to-consumer transition, and sustainable business growth.
His leadership has been pivotal in Gibson’s resurgence, establishing a forward-thinking strategy centered on Instruments, Sound, and Media. Gueikian initiated Gibson Labs, aiming to harness Gibson’s celebrated history of innovation and propel it across brands and categories into the future. Expanding Gibson’s footprint into media, he launched Gibson TV, offering original content to music enthusiasts globally. Furthermore, Gibson Records was established to collaborate with Gibson artists, bringing their music to the world and reinforcing Gibson’s cultural and musical connections.
Gueikian’s role at Gibson seamlessly blends his professional expertise with a lifelong passion for music and guitars, particularly those bearing the Gibson name. A proficient musician, guitarist, and songwriter, his musical journey began at age 10 with his first guitar. He has since explored diverse musical genres and spent over 25 years performing and recording with various bands in studios and on stages worldwide. He has shared stages with notable artists such as Mana, Kirk Hammett and Rob Trujillo of Metallica, Rex Brown, Dave Mustaine of Megadeth, Snake Sabo, Jared James Nichols, Richie Faulkner of Judas Priest, and Fito Paez, among others. He has also co-written songs with Serj Tankian of System of a Down and Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath.
Beyond his executive role, Gueikian is an avid collector of vintage guitars, possessing over 150 instruments. A significant portion of his collection is dedicated to Gibson guitars, which are actively utilized in the development of Gibson’s Original Collection, Historic Collection, and Vault Collection, ensuring authenticity and historical accuracy in these lines.
In his capacity at Gibson, Gueikian draws upon a rich tapestry of experiences. He has a 20-year background as an entrepreneur and financier, investing in companies worldwide. He has a proven track record in building executive and extended leadership matrix teams, refocusing businesses on their core competencies, and developing compelling go-to-market strategies that drive profitable growth. His expertise extends to revitalizing underperforming businesses and guiding them back to a path of growth. He has successfully concluded three major investment exits, including his first exceeding $1.5 billion in 2021 from a telecommunications company he co-founded in 2014.
Prior to his tenure at Gibson Guitar Corporation, Gueikian co-founded Melody Capital Partners, an alternative asset manager specializing in financing and restructuring private companies and related investments. Under his leadership, Melody’s assets under management grew from an initial $100 million investment to over $1.5 billion. Melody invested globally across sectors including consumer brands, telecommunications, real estate, music and entertainment, and F&B. Before co-founding Melody, Gueikian held leadership positions at UBS and Deutsche Bank in London and New York.
Gueikian holds a B.A. in Business from Universidad de San Andres, Buenos Aires, Argentina, and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago, with concentrations in Analytic Finance and Economics, providing him with a strong academic foundation for his business acumen.
Adding to his dynamic profile, Gueikian was an accomplished athlete. As a tennis player, he competed in tournaments across Latin and North America from ages 8 to 18. He remains active in sports, enjoying surfing, kitesurfing, polo, and snowboarding, embracing a self-described “extreme sports junkie” persona.
Currently residing in Nashville, Tennessee, with his wife, three children, and two dogs, Cesar and his wife are deeply engaged in their community. They are actively involved in numerous philanthropic endeavors, leading initiatives focused on improving lives, supporting music and education, and combating poverty and sexual violence, reflecting a commitment to social responsibility that complements his leadership of the Gibson Guitar Corporation.
