When the Dane was appointed to head up the new R&D initiative last year, he recruited members of his old R&D team, tasking them with "developing a groundbreaking portfolio". He then turned his attention to international sales and Ian Kirby.
Kirby's role with SGM will run in parallel to his own company, LED Projects Ltd - the Kent based distribution and installation operation, which will double as SGM's UK sales office.
Kirby has already secured a major breakthrough for the Italian lighting manufacturers, with the installation of quantities of their new LED Balls in Mayfair's prestigious Playboy Club, while another large-scale club, in which SGM's new generation products have been heavily specified, is also in the pipeline.
"The interest in joining SGM was stimulated mainly by Peter Johansen's involvement, and the fact that he was bringing his original R&D team back together," Ian Kirby said.
"They are already coming out with some great ideas, and one of the benefits of them having been away from the industry in the meantime is that they have been able to return with completely fresh ideas rather than a different take on the same thing."
Ian Kirby will be handling all sales and support from his UK office, with warehousing in Italy.
(Jim Evans)
