Gibson CEO leaves rainforest group after raid

Associated Press - November 19, 2009 6:45 AM ET

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The top executive of Gibson Guitar Corp. is taking a leave of absence from the board of an environmental group amid concerns about the source of the harvested wood used for instruments.

Federal agents on Tuesday raided a Gibson guitar manufacturing plant and seized guitars, but no one was arrested.

The Tennessean reported that the Rainforest Alliance announced on Wednesday that Gibson CEO and chairman Henry Juszkiewicz will not rejoin the board until the investigation has concluded.

Guitars and other musical instruments are often built from tropical hardwoods. Amid rainforest depletion, such woods are increasingly the focus of tight controls.

Information from: The Tennessean, http://www.tennessean.com