Philips was founded in 1891 in Eindhoven, Netherlands, by Gerard Philips and his father Frederik Philips, initially producing incandescent light bulbs before expanding into a broad range of consumer electronics and, eventually, medical devices.
Today Philips focuses entirely on health technology, generating approximately €18 billion in annual revenue and serving hospitals, clinics, and patients across more than 100 countries with imaging systems, monitoring equipment, and personal health products.
Headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Philips trades on Euronext Amsterdam under ticker PHIA and on the NYSE as ADR PHG today.
About Philips
| Sector | Healthcare |
| Industry | Health Technology & Medical Devices |
| CEO | Roy Jakobs |
| Website | philips.com |
| Headquarters | Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Founded | 1891 |
| Status | Public (AEX: PHIA / NYSE ADR: PHG) |
Philips Founders
Gerard Philips
Co-Founder; electrical engineer who designed and manufactured the company's first carbon-filament light bulbs at the Eindhoven factory from 1891
Frederik Philips
Co-Founder; Gerard's father and the financial backer who provided the capital for the initial factory and guided early business operations
Philips History
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1891
Gerard and Frederik Philips found Philips & Co. in Eindhoven, Netherlands, producing carbon-filament incandescent lamps in a purpose-built factory that within a decade becomes one of Europe's largest bulb manufacturers.
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1927
Philips acquires the Müller vacuum tube business and launches its first radios, beginning a decades-long expansion into consumer electronics that eventually covers televisions, shavers, and audio equipment.
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1963
Philips introduces the compact cassette tape format — developed at its Hasselt research lab — which becomes the global standard for portable audio recording and playback through the 1980s and 1990s.
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2001
Philips and Sony jointly launch the CD format commercially after years of joint development, establishing a new standard in digital audio that renders the cassette commercially obsolete within a decade.
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2021
Philips initiates a global recall of 5.5 million sleep apnea devices over foam degradation safety concerns — one of the largest medical device recalls in history — triggering regulatory investigations and billions in charges.
FAQs
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Who made the Philips logo?
Philips's shield logo — featuring a crown, stars, and the name Philips — was designed internally in the early 20th century. The current streamlined version with the shield emblem has been refined over decades by the company's internal design team. -
Is Philips an American company?
No. Philips is a Dutch company founded in 1891 in Eindhoven, Netherlands, and headquartered in Amsterdam. It trades on Euronext Amsterdam. Philips North America is its US subsidiary; the parent company is Dutch-incorporated and Dutch-listed. -
When did Philips come out?
Philips was founded on May 15, 1891, in Eindhoven, Netherlands, by Gerard Philips and Frederik Philips. It listed on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange in 1912 and has been publicly traded continuously since. -
Who owns Philips?
Philips is publicly traded on Euronext Amsterdam. Vanguard Group and BlackRock are its largest institutional shareholders. No single entity holds a controlling stake. The Philips family no longer holds a significant ownership position.