Richard Hogg was already doing a fine job running the day-to-day business of the department and Seonaid "Shonny" Aitkenhead has now joined him, having worked with black light as a freelancer at the end of 2004.
This has allowed Jackson's successor to fulfil an expanded role. Phil Haldane has now joined the black light team as events manager to actively develop the company's specialist events work.
"We are seeing our events business develop with an increasing amount of themed weddings, presentations and corporate projects running alongside events like the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and Enchanted Forest," says Stewart. "So, while not wanting to overlap with our existing customers, I want to ensure that our hire equipment is hard at work on jobs for as much of the year as possible."
Although he may be unfamiliar to black light customers, Haldane has been a regular sight at the company's Edinburgh premises, having freelanced for the company and also spent the past four years as technical manager at Edinburgh's Theatre Workshop, in which capacity he was a black light client.
"Phil knows us and we know him very well. So I am delighted that he's agreed to bring his expertise and enthusiasm to us full-time," says Stewart who is equally excited about the appointment of Shonny, saying: "She is especially hot on maintenance and takes great pride in ensuring all hire equipment goes out in top condition. Further expansion of our specialist events work is the next phase of black light's development and with the new team in place, it is a new and very exciting era for our business."
Speaking about his appointment, Haldane says: "Having been a client for many years, I know that black light is a very good company with excellent customer service. I am looking forward to developing the event and hire operations even further, working with Richard and Shonny in enhancing the reputation for high quality service which black light has earned."
The new team are already hard at work preparing for this year's Edinburgh Fringe Festival and a number of other key events.
(Sarah Rushton-Read)
