Joachim Gerhard! He founded AP and sold it to the current owners. When Joachim left, the designs were less desirable, IMO. I was a sales manager for a high end cable company and first heard AP ‘s on some French tube kit in NYC at Sound by Singer on a business trip, and knew then I needed to get some AP speakers. I sold my ProAc Response 2 and Totem Forests to by the AP Virgo2.
He is a brilliant designer and Michael Fremmer raved about and bought Virgo2, which are amazing. This vintage of AP is the real deal - Joachim Gerhard designs.
Personally, I own Virgo 2 in birdseye maple that I bought new and although have had many speakers over the years have kept them for they are amazing when set up using the Joachim Gerhard audio physic setup technique.i also own 2 pair of AP Step Se in Madagascar ebony, a 4” ported two way that will blow your mind in a small room. ) and a pair of cherry Steps.
I have Merlin VSM/bam which are excellent as well. Electronics I use are Naim audio, pass labs aleph 3, audio research, E.A.R integrated by Tim De Paravinci, vintage fisher sa-100. Etc