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Dobson Sound Continues Expansion

Details: 14 March 2016

Following the recent appointment of Nick Hughes as technical manager, Dobson Sound has appointed Tone Ferne, who has been brought in to join Bill Woods and David Lewis in managing and co-ordinating projects. The appointment as a permanent member of staff is a natural progression, say the company, as Ferne was already doing a great deal of work for the company on a freelance basis. Bill Woods commented: "Tone’s background as a sound engineer of considerable experience gives him an extremely strong edge in all the work that we do that has a music element to it. We tend to be involved more in the entertainment side of the corporate world anyway, so Tone’s skills and experience suit us perfectly."

Garner Takes Important Role at the EAA

Details: 14 March 2016

Janet Garner, managing director of Wembley (London) Ltd, was appointed Executive Secretary of the European Arenas Association (EAA) at its recent meeting in Barcelona. The EAA is the largest European co-operative association of arenas with 13 members spread across 12 countries and further expansion is expected. From a new base in a majestic canal-side house in Amsterdam in the Netherlands, the EAA aims to help the arenas to think and act as a group and to exchange information with each other. 2001 will be the EAA’s tenth anniversary.

HES: Wiseman VP World Sales

Details: 14 March 2016

High End Systems has appointed John Wiseman as vice-president of worldwide sales. Wiseman recently served as vice-president of special projects with specific responsibility for sales efforts in Europe and Asia. The promotion gives Wiseman total sales responsibility worldwide. Wiseman, an industry veteran, has served High End Systems in several capacities since joining the company five years ago. He was also instrumental in establishing the company's West Coast sales and demo facility in Van Nuys, California. Reporting to Wiseman are Sean Hoey, America's sales manager; David Catterall, European sales manager; JR Chai, Pacific Rim account manager; and Karen Bowler, worldwide sales operations manager. Wiseman will continue to operate out of Van Nuys, supported by Reina Evans.

Lighting Technology Adds White

Details: 14 March 2016

Following the opening of Lighting Technology's new sales office and showroom at The Business Design Centre in Islington, London, the company has appointed Graham White as sales manager. He joins Lighting Technology Projects after working extensively in the commercial lighting projects market with Parkersell, Barrel Lighting and, most recently, Absolute Action. Joining Graham at the Islington Showroom from the Park Royal office will be Clive Tallent and Sarah Davis. Jonathan Hilton will also be part of the new sales team but will remain based at Lighting Technology's office in Manchester.

Reeves Returns to Stage Two

Details: 14 March 2016

Stage Two Ltd, the Watford-based audio-visual, sound and lighting company, has announced that David Reeves has returned to the company as business development manager to consolidate the company's position in the conference equipment hire and presentation field.

Torben Johansen Leaves Martin Pro

Details: 14 March 2016

Yet more significant news from the Martin Professional camp. Torben Johansen, the company’s production director, has left the company. A brief statement posted on the company’s website says that Johansen has resigned and that until a successor is appointed his role will be taken on by CEO Kristain Kolding. The management thus consists of CEO Kristian Kolding and group director Lars Dige.

Top Level Changes at Trantec

Details: 14 March 2016

BBM Electronics, the London-based manufacturer of Trantec Wireless Systems, has announced major changes to its senior management. David Binks, one of the co-founders of the company, has decided to step down as managing director, say the company. Another of the original co-founders, Steve Baker, is also resigning his post as R&D director, though he will continue with BBM as a consultant. Also departing is Chris Gilbert, who has spent many successful years as sales director and was the public face of Trantec to much of the industry. Parent company TOA Corporation of Japan, which purchased BBM Electronics in 1998, has named Gordon Gillett (pictured) as managing director. Gillett has previously been a director of several engineering companies and a business consultant. Sho Kubo, currently managing director of TOA Electronics Europe GmbH, will take over as sales director. Kubo will continue t

New Appointments at AC Lighting

Details: 14 March 2016

AC Lighting Ltd has announced a number of major staff appointments. Mark Tonks joined AC Lighting in 1993 and became a key player in export sales whilst developing his interest in IT. In his new role as IT & Logistics Director, Mark will play a major role in the organisational side of the business. "In the future we believe companies will sink or swim on their ability to exceed customer expectations. As we continue to grow, it is my challenge to establish that infrastructure," says Tonks. Secondly, Peter Searles has been appointed company secretary. Searles joined AC Lighting on the completion of the sale of his successful plastic-moulding company in 1990, and has since held many and varied senior roles within the company, many related to special projects. Finally, a new face in the company’s technical sales department is Martin Savage. Formally assistant head of lighting

Alan Boyd Joins Vari-Lite London

Details: 14 March 2016

Vari-Lite has welcomed Alan Boyd to its London team, as a product trainer. Boyd has several years’ experience in the lighting industry, including a two-year spell as permanent associate lighting designer to Chris Ellis, with largely theatre-based work ranging from operas and musicals to dramas. He has also worked as a theatre lighting freelancer, and spent one year as deputy chief electrician on Disney’s The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre in London’s West End, and as lighting designer for the Batignano Opera Festival last year in Tuscany, Italy. Boyd brings to the company his experience of a wide range of fixtures and control desks - including Vari*Lite automated lighting products.

Nightingale Sings at Celestion

Details: 14 March 2016

Celestion has appointed a new South of England sales executive. John Nightingale has joined the loudspeaker manufacturer after nearly three years with Batmink, the West country wholesale and distribution company. In addition to having a solid background of over seven years in installation contracting and a further two in project management, he is also in demand as a DJ, travelling all over Southern England under his alias ‘Tin Tin’.

New Marketing Director at NXT

Details: 14 March 2016

Andrew Williams has been appointed NXT's new group marketing director, reporting to CEO David Pearson. His prime responsibility will be co-ordinating the global marketing strategy of NXT's SurfaceSound, SoundVu, TouchSound and 20/20 Speech technologies. He replaces Jon Vizor, who will now concentrate full time on his business development role as head of venture sales and also leading the commercial audio sales teams. Williams joins NXT from iXL, the internet and business consultancy based in San Francisco. Prior to iXL, he was director of marketing at Chiltern Group plc, the London-based financial and business consultancy.

Aiken to Accounts at HES

Details: 14 March 2016

Leigh Anne Aiken has been promoted to account manager for High End Systems Inc. In her new position, she will support the Middle East, Africa, the Pacific Rim and Southeast Asia. Since joining High End in May 1993, she has worked in administration, human resources and in various sales support functions. She will now report directly to John Wiseman, VP of Worldwide Sales, but will continue to be based in the Austin, Texas headquarters.

Gordon Leaving High End Systems

Details: 14 March 2016

Frank Gordon, High End Systems' CEO, has announced that he will be leaving High End to consider new opportunities. As a result, High End is conducting a search for a new CEO to replace him, which the company expects to complete as quickly as possible. Gordon originally joined HES in 1998 with the closing of the equity investment by Generation Partners of New York and will remain at HES as CEO until the search process is complete.

New Recruit for Total Audio

Details: 14 March 2016

Total Audio Solutions has recruited Canadian David Anthony Otañez, formerly of Yamaha Commercial Audio and Denmark Street Studios, London, to spearhead the company’s sales into the UK post-production and studio markets. Otañez, who has been closely involved with computer-based recording systems for the last 10 years, brings to the company a wealth of experience with digital mixing consoles, which will prove useful in advising potential customers for the Sony DMX-R100, rapidly becoming one of Total Audio Solutions’ most sought-after products. Otañez also has an in-depth knowledge of Pro Tools and other hard-disk-based recording systems.

Fenwick Heads to Envo-Tech

Details: 14 March 2016

Stuart Fenwick has joined the audio facilities company Envo-Tech to head up its expanding leisure division. Envo-Tech’s MD Brian Puckey commented on the appointment: "With our business in the leisure sector growing and the opening of our new dedicated professional audio showrooms based in London, it became obvious that we needed someone with Stuart’s industry experience". Fenwick, formerly with Martin Professional, joins Envo-Tech after a spell with G-E-T.com.

New Show Director for LIW

Details: 14 March 2016

International Leisure Industry Week (LIW - 2-4 October 2001, NEC, Birmingham) has appointed Neil Felton as show director. Felton, previously manager for fitness, health and sport at LIW, is now responsible for overseeing the entire exhibition, as well as dealing with the show’s sponsorships and liaising closely with trade associations.

Elissa Getto Joins TPC

Details: 14 March 2016

Elissa Getto has joined Theatre Projects Consultants as senior theatre consultant in the Norwalk, Connecticut office. She will be a principal member of the team conducting performing arts feasibility studies and advising on a wide range of administration issues. Currently she is working on major studies for the Lincoln Centers in both New York and Dallas. Prior to joining TPC, Getto served as CEO and President of the Westport Country Playhouse, Connecticut and was also president of the Cincinnati Arts Association and an executive director of PACT Inc.

Sarner Strengthens Management Team

Details: 14 March 2016

Following an 18-month market research and development project, Sarner International Ltd, a leading audio-visual design and installation specialist, has re-launched itself with a new management line-up which includes the promotion of experienced divisional managers to its board and the introduction of a new corporate identity. The company’s Ross Magri, Michael Bennett, Ian Revens and David Dempsey have joined the Sarner Board. David Dempsey, Sarner's sales and marketing director told PLASA Media: "We reached the conclusion that we needed to re-evaluate the direction of our work and our expectations for the future." As a result, the company has decided to concentrate its efforts on three main markets: the integrated presentation systems market, the corporate production and events market and the design and build of themed visitor attractions and experiences market.

Gallinghouse Returns to ETC

Details: 14 March 2016

Bill Gallinghouse is rejoining ETC in the newly created role of vice-president of business development. In this position, he will be responsible for special projects and will initially be concentrating on the coordination of international sales efforts. Gallinghouse originally joined ETC in 1990 as vice-president of sales and subsequently served as managing director of ETC Europe between 1996 and 1998. For the last three years he was senior vice-president of sales for Fourth Phase (previously PRG), one of ETC’s key clients.

All Change at L-Acoustics

Details: 14 March 2016

French PA system manufacturer L-Acoustics has made a number of important personnel changes: financial manager Hervé Guillaume has been appointed managing director with responsibility for all administrative and financial matters. His new role will allow him to manage all the advanced aspects of L-Acoustics’ established business, while Christian Heil, the company chairman, will focus on the development of a global company strategy. Sandrine Fessard, formerly a sales assistant is now in charge of customer services, working alongside long-established sales manager Michel Brouard. Pascale Danielou joins the sales administration team and will be working in the expanded sales team with Beatrice Mornet. Paul Bauman has been appointed technical support manager, and will be assisted by Stephane Gramondo, who has been in charge of technical support for permanent installations over the last y

Mays joins Moodie, Pincu & Associates

Details: 14 March 2016

TMB announced today that Warren Mays, the company’s long-serving technical sales manager, has left the company to join Moodie, Pincu & Associates. Colin Waters, TMB’s CEO told PLASA Media: “Warren has been a great asset to TMB over the years and he will be missed. Because of his understanding of the cooperative relationship between TMB and Moodie-Pincu, we believe this move will lead to many new opportunities for both companies. Moodie-Pincu & Associates is a manufacturer’s representatives in the greater Los Angeles area for Electronic Theatre Controls and other entertainment-based manufacturers of theatrical support equipment.

Linton Smeeton Leaves Mackie/RCF

Details: 14 March 2016

Mackie/RCF UK has announced that Linton Smeeton has left the company to pursue other interests within the pro audio Industry. Smeeton, who had been with the company for over 10 years and was one of the founding directors of RCF UK, held the position of sales director. Mackie/RCF MD, Phil Price commented on the move: "I would like to put on record that in the 'early' years of the company Linton was pivotal to the growth and successes particularly within the public address markets in the UK." Since the acquisition of RCF by Mackie Designs, Linton had been active in introduction of Mackie products to the market place.

BSS Sales and Support Expansion

Details: 14 March 2016

BSS Audio has announced two new appointments. Tim McCall (pictured left), previously of Marquee Audio, has moved to BSS to look after Middle East and Asia sales, and will be responsible for the management of the BSS distributor network in these territories. The role of UK sales engineer has been taken up by Dave McKinney (pictured right), formerly from Gearhouse. His job will involve client and dealer liaison and support in the UK. The move initiates an expansion for BSS Sales, and complements the newly formed Systems Group headed by Davey Smalley.

Rob Robinson Joins Stardraw

Details: 14 March 2016

Stardraw.com has appointed Rob Robinson as operations manager. Starting as an audio installation engineer in 1989, he worked his way up through the ranks to become a project manager for large scale audio and video systems at Shuttlesound. He oversaw the launch and development of ShuttleCAD, the predecessor to Stardraw Audio, from 1993 to 1997 and from 1994 was instrumental in the adoption of Stardraw technology. In 1997, he set up as an independent marketing consultant subsequently becoming marketing manager for Moody's Risk Management Services, a software division of the global ratings agency. David Snipp, managing director of Stardraw.com Ltd. Told PLASA Media: "We're delighted that Rob is on board. He's got a great deal of experience which will be invaluable as we're looking at more and more international business and will be expanding into new markets in 2001."

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