April 20, 2026 I Appointments
Martin Announces Board Appointment, Executive Leadership Changes
Matthew Kennedy (left) and Blaine Phillips.
C.F. Martin & Co. today announced the appointment of Blaine Phillips to its board of directors and the addition of Matthew Kennedy to its Executive Leadership Team (ELT).
Phillips is a seasoned business leader with more than 40 years of experience building and growing a family-owned company. Phillips currently serves as president of Phillips & Phillips, a commercial real estate holding company, and CEO of Phillips Pet Food & Supplies, one of the largest national distributors of pet food and supplies. Over the course of his career, he has transformed a small family feed store into a nationwide organization with more than 900 employees, a network of distribution centers across the U.S., and partnerships with over 12,000 retail locations and 300 vendors.
Phillips brings a deep understanding of long-term growth, strategic expansion and the unique dynamics of family-owned businesses. During his tenure at Phillips Pet Food & Supplies, he led the integration of more than 20 distributors and regions, helping scale the company into an industry leader while maintaining strong relationships across both brick-and-mortar and e-commerce channels.
“I grew up in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, and always admired Martin Guitar, so it is truly an honor to join the Board of Directors of the greatest acoustic guitar maker in the world,” Phillips said. “Calling on many years of experience running and growing my own family business, I believe I can bring valuable insights to this amazing company and help us reach even greater heights.”
“Blaine is from Nazareth, the third generation in his family business that evolved from farm animal feed to pet food. He has grown his family business in a challenging and evolving market successfully,” said Chris Martin IV, Martin’s chairman of the board. “My dog Dolce and I welcome Blaine to the Martin board of directors.”
C.F. Martin & Co. has announced that Matthew Kennedy has been named an officer of the company and appointed to the Executive Leadership Team. He currently serves as director of custom shop sales administration and support.
Kennedy has been a contributor to the company for the past 14 years. He currently serves on the board of directors and has a seat on the board of the Martin Guitar Charitable Foundation. Beginning his career on the manufacturing floor, Kennedy has held a variety of roles across the organization, gaining hands-on experience in multiple areas of the business. His time working alongside employees throughout the company has given him a strong understanding of day-to-day operations and the perspectives of Martin’s workforce.
“It’s an honor to take on this role, and I’m committed to preserving and building upon Martin Guitar’s values and history — celebrating our artistry and craftspeople, inspiring musicians, and guiding purposeful growth for generations,” Kennedy said.
“Matt started as an intern, got a full-time job at the company, then got an MBA. He helped Thomas Ripsam and me with strategy, got involved in NAMM Young Professionals, and serves on the board of the Martin Guitar Charitable Foundation as well as the company’s Board of Directors,” said Chris Martin IV. “Congratulations, Matt! P.S. Yes, he is my nephew.”
