Starkey fires president and other top officers

Updated: 8:45 p.m. | Posted: 2:13 p.m.

Several of Starkey Hearing Technologies' top officers, including the company's president and chief financial officer, have been terminated.

An email obtained by MPR News said Starkey Hearing Technologies' President Jerry Ruzicka, Chief Financial Officer Scott Nelson, Senior Vice President of Operations Keith Guggenberger and Senior Vice President of Human Resources Larry Miller were fired, effective immediately.

Ruzicka had worked at Starkey Hearing Technologies for decades. He started working at the company in 1977, according to his LinkedIn profile.

A message was left at Ruzicka's home. A woman who answered the phone at Guggenberger's home said he would have no comment. The other two fired employees could not be reached.

Ruzicka's attorney Marshall Tanik said they are "looking into the matter and we hope it can be resolved fairly and amicably."

Willam F. Austin, owner of the Eden Prairie-based hearing aid company, informed employees of the termination in an email.

He said no other information would be provided because an investigation is ongoing. It isn't clear whether the investigation Austin is referencing is internal or external.

Tanik, Ruzicka's attorney, said he knew nothing about an investigation.

Officials with the Eden Prairie Police Department and the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office say their respective departments have no open investigations into Starkey or the former executives.

In a statement issued by the company, Austin didn't confirm the firings, but said business will continue as usual and there are no issues that affect the company. A spokeswoman declined further comment.

Starkey, a privately held company, is the fifth largest hearing aid company in the world. It employs more than 3,600 people worldwide.