WS Audiology
A privately held global hearing-care and hearing-aid company formed through the 2019 combination of Sivantos and Widex.
Last updated October 30, 2026
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Overview
WS Audiology is a privately held hearing-health company headquartered in Denmark and Singapore. The group develops, manufactures, sells, and distributes hearing aids and related hearing-care services through a portfolio that includes Signia, Widex, Rexton, Audio Service, Coselgi, A&M, Bloom, audibene, hear.com, HearUSA, Lifestyle Hearing Network, SHOEBOX, TruHearing, and Widex Hearing Specialists. Its business therefore spans both hearing-device technology and the channels through which consumers receive hearing assessment, fitting, financing, and ongoing support. The company describes its technological roots as extending back to the late nineteenth century. In 1878, Werner von Siemens built a telephone using a horseshoe magnet that amplified voice signals. Siemens later introduced the Esha-Phonophor, described as its first industrially produced hearing instrument, in 1913. A second major lineage came from Widex, which was established in Denmark during the 1950s by Christian Tøpholm and Erik Westermann. Widex produced its first hearing-aid model, the Widex 561, in 1956. These two historical strands—Siemens audiology and Danish Widex engineering—eventually became the foundation of WS Audiology. The Siemens business developed a series of important hearing-device formats, including the Auriculette behind-the-ear instrument in 1959 and the Siretta 339, one of its early completely in-the-ear devices, in 1966. Widex became associated with digital innovation, including the Quattro Q8, described as the first digitally programmable hearing aid with a remote control, in 1988, and Senso, a fully digital device that fit completely in the ear, in 1995. Later milestones included synchronized right-and-left hearing aids in 2004 and a small receiver-in-canal device in 2008. The corporate structure changed substantially in 2015, when Siemens Audiology Solutions was sold by Siemens AG to EQT and Santo Holding for more than €2 billion. The business was separated from Siemens and renamed Sivantos. In 2017, Sivantos joined the United Nations Global Compact Initiative and began consolidating its social-responsibility and corporate-responsibility activities. In 2018, Sivantos and Widex announced their combination, and the merged company began operating under the WS Audiology name in 2019. The merger created one of the world's largest hearing-aid groups. WS Audiology also expanded its consumer-access model through hearing-care networks and digital intermediaries. The hear.com and European audibene businesses connect consumers with hearing-care experts and independent audiologists. Their model supplements traditional clinic and retail distribution with online lead generation, counseling, and partner referrals. Other group brands, including HearUSA, TruHearing, and Widex Hearing Specialists, provide additional routes to hearing evaluation and device access in selected markets. The group is global in both production and commercial reach. The referenced company profile states that WS Audiology employs approximately 12,600 people in more than 125 countries. For fiscal year 2023–2024, it reported revenue of €2.63 billion and adjusted EBITDA of €542 million. These figures describe the overall private group rather than a publicly traded company, and WS Audiology has no publicly provided stock ticker in the supplied material. Jan Makela became chief executive in July 2024, succeeding Eric Bernard. The company currently combines hearing-aid brands, professional hearing-care networks, and digitally supported consumer services under one international organization.
History
WS Audiology's history combines the development of Siemens audiology with the independent Danish hearing-aid company Widex. The Siemens lineage reaches back to 1878, when Werner von Siemens built a telephone using a horseshoe magnet to amplify voice signals. Siemens subsequently introduced the Esha-Phonophor in 1913, described as its first industrially produced hearing instrument. The Widex lineage began in Denmark during the 1950s, when Christian Tøpholm and Erik Westermann formed Widex and started developing hearing devices in a converted cellar. Widex produced its first model, the Widex 561, in 1956. During the following decades, both Siemens and Widex contributed to the development of smaller and more sophisticated hearing devices. Siemens introduced the Auriculette behind-the-ear device in 1959 and the Siretta 339, an early completely in-the-ear product, in 1966. Widex became particularly associated with digital hearing-aid development. In 1988 it produced the Quattro Q8, described as the first digitally programmable hearing aid with a remote control. In 1995, it developed Senso, a fully digital unit designed to fit completely in the ear. Other cited Widex advances include synchronization between right and left hearing aids in 2004 and a small receiver-in-canal hearing aid in 2008. A decisive ownership change occurred in 2015, when Siemens AG sold Siemens Audiology Solutions to EQT and Santo Holding for more than €2 billion. The business was separated from Siemens and renamed Sivantos. Sivantos later pursued a more explicit corporate-responsibility program, joining the UN Global Compact Initiative in 2017 and issuing its first Communication on Progress in May 2018. In 2018, Sivantos and Widex announced their merger. The combination brought together the Siemens-derived Sivantos organization and the Danish Widex business, creating a major international hearing-aid group. The combined company adopted the name WS Audiology in 2019. After the merger, the group continued to operate a broad portfolio of hearing-device brands while also building consumer-access and hearing-care channels. Its brands include Signia, Widex, Rexton, Audio Service, Coselgi, A&M, Bloom, and several service or distribution businesses. The hear.com and audibene operations provide online hearing-care access through hearing-care experts and independent audiology partners. The group also includes HearUSA, TruHearing, Widex Hearing Specialists, Lifestyle Hearing Network, and SHOEBOX. The company profile associated with the Wikipedia article states that WS Audiology has approximately 12,600 employees and operates in more than 125 countries. It reported fiscal-year 2023–2024 revenue of €2.63 billion and adjusted EBITDA of €542 million. The company remains privately owned. In July 2024, Jan Makela succeeded Eric Bernard as chief executive officer.
- 2024
Jan Makela becomes CEO
[1]Jan Makela succeeded Eric Bernard as chief executive in July 2024.
- 2019
WS Audiology is formed
[1]The merger of Sivantos and Widex created the combined company known as WS Audiology.
- 2017
Sivantos joins the UN Global Compact
[1]Sivantos joined the UN Global Compact Initiative and began streamlining its social-responsibility program.
- 2015
Sivantos is separated from Siemens
[1]EQT and Santo Holding acquired Siemens Audiology Solutions, which was renamed Sivantos.
- 2008
Small receiver-in-canal device developed
[1]The company created a hearing aid described as the world's smallest receiver-in-canal device at the time.
- 2004
Right and left hearing aids are synchronized
[1]The company developed a hearing aid system in which the right and left devices were synchronized.
- 1995
Widex develops Senso
[1]Widex created Senso, described as the first fully digital unit that fit completely in the ear.
- 1988
Widex introduces the Quattro Q8
[1]Widex produced the Quattro Q8, described as the first digitally programmable hearing aid with a remote control.
- 1956
Widex produces its first hearing aid
[1]Widex produced the Widex 561 after its founders began developing hearing devices in Denmark.
- 1913
Siemens introduces the Esha-Phonophor
[1]Siemens introduced the Esha-Phonophor, described as its first industrially produced hearing instrument.
Products and positioning
A global hearing-health platform combining established hearing-aid engineering, multi-brand device distribution, professional audiology networks, and digitally enabled consumer access.
Hearing aids
Signia
Signia is one of WS Audiology's principal hearing-aid brands. It represents the group's modern consumer-facing device portfolio within its multi-brand strategy. The supplied reference identifies Signia as a brand developed, manufactured, sold, and distributed by WS Audiology, but does not provide model-specific launch dates or technical specifications.
Hearing aids · 1956
Widex
Widex is the Danish hearing-aid brand whose history forms one of the two principal roots of WS Audiology. Its documented heritage includes the Widex 561, Quattro Q8, Senso, synchronized bilateral devices, and receiver-in-canal development. The brand remains part of WS Audiology's international hearing-device portfolio.
Hearing aids
Rexton
Rexton is a hearing-aid brand in the WS Audiology portfolio. The supplied reference identifies it as one of the brands the group develops, manufactures, sells, and distributes, without specifying individual product generations or markets.
Hearing aids
Audio Service
Audio Service is a hearing-aid brand operated within WS Audiology's multi-brand portfolio. It contributes to the group's device offering alongside Signia, Widex, Rexton, Coselgi, A&M, and Bloom.
Online hearing care · 2012
hear.com
hear.com provides digitally supported hearing-care access through hearing-care experts and independent audiology partners. Its model connects consumers seeking hearing help with professional services and hearing-aid solutions. The European counterpart continues to use the audibene name.
Online hearing care · 2012
audibene
audibene is the European brand associated with WS Audiology's online hearing-care business. Together with hear.com, it uses digital consumer engagement and a network of independent audiologists and hearing-care specialists.
Hearing-care network
HearUSA
HearUSA is a hearing-care network within the WS Audiology group. It represents the group's expansion beyond device manufacturing into clinical and consumer-facing hearing-care distribution.
Hearing assessment technology
SHOEBOX
SHOEBOX is included among WS Audiology's hearing-related brands and offerings. The supplied reference does not provide enough detail to specify its product architecture, launch date, or individual markets.
Brand decisions
2019
Combine Sivantos and WidexM&ABackground
Sivantos and Widex announced a combination in 2018 to unite the Siemens-derived audiology business with the Danish hearing-aid manufacturer.
Action taken
The merged organization adopted the name WS Audiology.
Aftermath
The transaction created a large global hearing-aid group with device brands and hearing-care distribution businesses.
2015
Acquire and separate Siemens Audiology SolutionsM&ABackground
Siemens AG sold its audiology business to EQT and Santo Holding as part of a separation from the Siemens group.
Action taken
The acquired business was renamed Sivantos and operated as an independent hearing-aid company.
Aftermath
Sivantos became one of the two corporate foundations of WS Audiology after its later combination with Widex.
Transaction value. More than €2 billion (2015 transaction)
Sources1 sources
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