Michael F. Klipsch

Michael Klipsch was appointed to the Purdue Board of Trustees by Governor Mike Pence on May 11, 2015. A Purdue alumnus, he earned a Bachelor's degree in industrial management in 1985. He also holds a JD with honors from Indiana University.

Mr. Klipsch had a 20-year career with Klipsch Group, a family owned and operated holding company for a wide variety of consumer electronic brands; including most notably the Klipsch brand. Mr. Klipsch was a 3rd generation family member of the internationally renowned audio manufacturer of loudspeakers and headphones founded in 1946 by Paul Klipsch.

Klipsch held a wide variety of executive positions including president, chief operating officer and chief counsel. Beyond his role of managing all legal affairs, strategic partnerships and manufacturing during his entire tenure at the company, Klipsch’s major contributions included creating a global supply chain capability to manage sourcing and sales to over 40 countries. Further launching the Klipsch brand into the headphone market in 2007, he helped position the company as one of today’s leading headphone manufacturers, building on the Indianapolis-based company’s legacy of excellence.

After selling Klipsch Group in 2011 to a public company, Mr. Klipsch retired from the company in late 2015. Since then he has pursued a variety of new entrepreneurial opportunities including the development of state-of-the-art athletic facilities; involvement in many multi-family housing communities; and other strategic private equity investments. The athletic facilities include Grand Park Fieldhouse (aka Pacers Athletic Center) in Westfield, Indiana, Finch Creek Fieldhouse in Noblesville, Indiana and Community Hospital Sports & Wellness Center in Pendleton, Indiana.

He began his career at the law firm of Bingham Summers Welsh and Spilman (now Dentons Bingham Greenebaum) achieving partnership. His nine years of law practice focused on complex business transactions, debt/equity offerings, business reorganizations, and international law. After his time at Bingham Summers he worked at Klipsch Lanham & Associates which managed a wide variety of portfolio companies including Shane Co. Jewelers, Overhead Door Company franchises in Indianapolis and Cincinnati, National Guest Homes, and Hospital Affiliates Development Corporation. Mr. Klipsch was chief counsel and held a variety of other executive positions at Klipsch Lanham and each of its portfolio companies.

Mr. Klipsch has remained deeply involved with Purdue since graduating including serving on the Purdue Board of Trustees, Purdue Research Foundation Board of Directors, Purdue Global Board of Trustees, IUPUI Board of Advisors, Old Masters, John Purdue Club Brees Leadership Circle and was awarded, along with his wife Paula, the 2019 Diamond P award. In addition to his involvement Purdue University, Klipsch has been actively involved in the community, volunteering in organizations such as the American Cancer Society, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Boy Scouts of America, and Carmel Dad’s Club in Carmel, Indiana.