UK - Audio industry maverick Mike Lavelle has joined the CLD Distribution team as technical sales manager bringing 25 years of experience and enthusiasm to the east Sussex based professional audio and lighting sales specialist.

Lavelle will be 'on the road' for CLD, visiting existing customers and potential new ones, in the process feeding back ideas and suggestions for how the CLD services can be further streamlined. Part of his remit is to learn more about the constantly changing requirements of clients and assessing if new and different products should be added to the ranges.

Says Nigel Howes, MD and founder of CLD, "Mike brings a wealth of experience in the professional audio industry, plus an enormous and eclectic contacts base. He is hugely respected and we have known him for over 20 years. CLD has a very positive staff atmosphere and so he fits in perfectly with ou

UK - Andrew De Rosa, who was appointed the first CEO of the Association of British Theatre Technicians (ABTT) in December 2009, will shortly be leaving the Association "to pursue his own interests in new and exciting ways", the Association has announced. The statement ads: "The time however is right for others to lead the Association as it moves into new and uncharted waters. The Association has grown under his tenure and his efforts to market and promote the ABTT in new ways has been well received and puts us in a stronger position."

The ABTT says that Andrew De Rosa was keen to give greater member benefits and reasons for joining. "He gave us a new look and this came as we celebrated our 50th Anniversary. The Association now through Andrew's efforts is able to offer insurance schemes that better protect members of the Association when they are working

USA / UK - GDS (Global Design Solutions) has announced the appointment of Chris Patton as Head of US Operations. With over 12 years' experience in the entertainment technology industry, Patton brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise. Working for most of his career in various roles for Stage Electrics, his most recent position was as export sales manager, where he was responsible for developing overseas business opportunities and implementing effective export sales strategies. Patton has been appointed to develop the GDS brand across North and South America and will work in strong partnership with GDS's distributor A.C.T Lighting, which distributes LiteWare, Cue SystemNet, SMConsole, ARC System and MOBAL to the North America market. Chris will initially be based in the UK and will re-locate to GDS's New York office in August 2012.

Patton Commented: "GDS are an incredibly

USA - Richard Stratford has been appointed as president of Penn-Elcom Inc. in the USA and will head up all the company's North American operations.

He will lead the sales and operational elements of the flightcase and loudspeaker solutions specialist's busy US businesses, including its four distribution hubs, assuming full responsibility for their day-to-day running.

Stratford started his Penn career 28 years ago in 1983 on the production line of their anodising company, quickly moving up into a management role. He relocated to New Jersey in 1988 to become the general manager of that particular venture, before being appointed vice president of sales in 2003.

Says Stratford, "It is a great honour to be appointed president of North America. The US market is one of our most competitive and constantly changing in the world, and I look forward to helping produce many positiv

Denmark/UK - Martin Professional's EMEA sales organisation has announced the hiring of David Martin as key account manager serving the UK market. Martin is a familiar face to many at Martin as he worked as club sales manager at Martin UK in the early 2000s.

Martin's new position as key account manager encompasses developing and managing business in the television lighting segment and maintaining direct contact with TV LD's and companies that supply the television production industry, as well as managing general accounts across the entertainment sector.

Martin brings over 22 years of lighting and audiovisual experience to the position, a span that includes the operation of his own company, Total Audio Visual Ltd, over the last 10 years in which he maintained his mastery of Martin products by selling and installing Martin lighting systems.

(Jim Evans)

USA - PLASA has confirmed recent changes to the North American Regional Board. The first set of changes began this spring when Kacey Coffin, the North American regional board secretary, accepted a staff position as PLASA's membership manager, North America. Dinna Myers, director of sales & marketing at Musson Theatrical and dealer representative on the Board, was appointed to fill the vacant secretary position.

Dinna also serves as co-chair for the Membership Advisory Group and the Marketing & Communications Advisory Group. Scott Hoyt, vice president of Heartland Scenic Studio, was appointed to fill the open dealer representative position. Scott currently serves as co-chair of the Business Resource Group and chair of the Business Peer Group Advisory Programme.

In July, Charlie Davidson stepped down from his seat as manufacturer representative and Tom Siko, Midwest territory ma

UK - HHB Communications has announced the appointment of Andrew Low to the newly-created position of HHB marketing coordinator.

Low will be based in the main HHB sales office in West London and report to group sales director Steve Angel. He will be working with both HHB and Scrub to create content for the new website, produce HHB's catalogues, write and issue press releases and work with social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter amongst many other marketing related duties.

Low joins HHB from his previous position at Intent Media where he was the editor of Audio Pro International for the past four years. He is also a gigging and recording guitarist and singer songwriter with a wide knowledge of pro audio products and an audio engineering background.

"I am very lucky to join a company that is so well respected in the pro audio and broadcast communities at a t

Norway - Jens Heymans has been appointed country manager, Germany, Austria and Switzerland (DACH) at projectiondesign.

Heymans has already assumed his position working to develop and implement a strategic growth strategy encompassing all business development as well as increased partner relationships in Germany. During late 2011 and 2012 Heymans will be integral in setting up a projectiondesign German office as well as to implement increased business in Austria and Switzerland. This includes the investment in local business development, marketing and technical support functions and personnel.

"Jens Heymans is another key addition to our investment in global growth that includes setting up of new offices, new personnel as well as significant expansion. His experience in strategic business management will give competitive advantage when supporting projectiondesign's partner

Denmark - Martin Professional Scandinavia has announced that Mikkel Toksværd has joined the company as project sales manager Nordic, overseeing project activities throughout Scandinavia for Martin's Danish-based EMEA sales organisation.

Toksværd will cover the entire Scandinavian region with particular focus on the Swedish and Norwegian markets. He originally graduated from the Danish National Theatre School as Lighting Designer and later achieved a certificate in Project Management from Copenhagen Business School.

Over the past 10 years, he has owned his own business, marketing the French/US show control company Medialon in Scandinavia, activities he will continue to manage.

Leif Orkelbog-Andresen, business area manager for Martin EMEA Projects, stated: "With his proven track record in the Scandinavian countries, Mikkel will bring valuable insight and guidance to our

The Netherlands - Ampco Flashlight Rental has announced the appointment of Otte-Pieter Banga as operations director. Banga will take up the position on 7 September and will assume responsibility for the day-to-day management of the company.

Dick van Berkum, CEO of Ampco Flashlight Rental, welcomed the appointment of Otte-Pieter: "He's a dynamic manager and feels perfectly at home in our often complex commercial, governmental and technological world."

Banga has extensive experience within the entertainment industry. He has previously held positions within large organisations, and is also an old acquaintance of Ampco Flashlight, having served as interim director of Flashlight BV between 1999 and 2000.

He says of his new challenge: "I am very happy with this new role. Given my background and knowledge of the entertainment industry, I am confident that I will cont

USA - Renkus-Heinz has announced the appointment of Ladd Temple to the position of technical sales manager.

Temple comes to Renkus-Heinz after more than a decade with Peavey Electronics, where he most recently served as product development manager for the company's Crest Audio and Architectural Acoustics divisions. Other positions he has held with Peavey include plant manager and artist relations manager.

In his new position, Temple will provide technical and sales support to Renkus-Heinz's extensive network of representatives and dealers throughout the western US. He will report to VP of sales and marketing Rik Kirby.

"We're very pleased to welcome Ladd to Renkus-Heinz," remarked Kirby. "We're fortunate that someone with Ladd's background and expertise came along at a time when we are in the process of growing and strengthening the technical and sales support

UK - Blackburn-based rental specialist HSL has appointed UK lighting designer Andy Hurst - Prodigy, Faithless, Pendulum, Dizzee Rascal, and others - as a creative director, in a move to promote and expand the company's touring and special events division.

Hurst will be working closely with group director Mike Oates and other HSL project managers in a move that consolidates the company's massive expansion in the touring sector over the last four years.

Managing Director Simon Stuart comments, "It's great to have Andy onboard and to welcome him into our family. As with all our designers, he will have unlimited access to our extensive rental stock of lighting, digital lighting and LED products, and we are looking forward to a long and productive partnership together, and to sharing lots of positive energies and ideas."

Hurst adds, "HSL is one of the fastest growi

Belgium - Martin Professional's EMEA sales organisation has announced that Maarten Gossye has joined the company as key account manager covering the Belgian and Luxembourgian markets.

Gossye, an industrial engineer with a fascination for lighting and video products, worked for Martin Professional's former distributor in Belgium, EVDV, from 2007-2010 where he was responsible for customer service and product support.

In his new position as key account manager, he will cover both the install and rental markets for Martin in Belgium and Luxembourg. Due to his technical background, he also will handle product demonstrations and provide support on technical issues.

Gossye began in his new position in July and is based in Geraardsbergen near Brussels.

(Jim Evans)

UK - Lee House has joined Green Hippo in London as product manager for the firm's Hippotizer Media Server range.

House has a strong background in the world of lighting and AV, having previously worked at Flying Pig, High End Systems and most recently AC Entertainment Technologies. His role at AC was to build up the newly founded video division three years ago, a role which led him to gain advanced knowledge of the Hippotizer server range.

"I've been a huge fan of Hippotizer since its first appearance at PLASA in 2004 and distributing the product in the UK led me to become so close to the product I couldn't refuse the opportunity to step even closer by taking on the roll of Hippotizer product manager," says House. "This position is one I relish and I'm looking forward to the next phase of Green Hippo's evolution.

"The future developments and features in th

Australia - ENTTEC has expanded its sales team. Lighting industry veteran Carl Spaulding joins ENTTEC as its sales manager for the Northern Region, USA and Canada after working more than 10 years as a member of the BMI Supply sales team.

"ENTTEC has an extremely versatile range of products. I'm excited by the opportunities and infinite potential of the solutions ENTTEC provides," Spaulding said. "With my experience in sales management as well as technical direction and manufacturing, I felt like ENTTEC was a natural fit."

Walter Terella was hired as the business development manager for ENTTEC, having extensive sales experience working in the world mining and construction industries, most recently for TR Pty MINECOM. Terella is a seasoned business development manager for local and international technical sales.

"The opportunity arose within ENTTEC whe

UK - Sennheiser UK has announced the appointment of Gerry Forde as director of sales and marketing - pro and install from 1September, with the further responsibility for the MI division being added from 1 January 2012.

Forde will be working for Sennheiser UK's general manager Phil Massey, taking on a strategic role within the UK, analysing and developing business in line with the Sennheiser Group's five-year plan to consolidate its premium brand position in the market, says the company.

Forde joined the pro audio industry in 1990, establishing distribution company Sennheiser Sales Ireland and then Roland Ireland in 1997.

"I will become part of a vey strong senior management team, which thrives under Phil's leadership," says Forde. "Until now, Phil has direct responsibility for the pro and install divisions. My appointment will free up some of his time and help

USA - California based GLP German Light Products Inc. has announced a couple of significant changes to its staff line up.

First, Carl Wake has taken on the new role of technical services director within the company, with responsibility for the entire technical and support side of the company.

"Carl is the perfect person to have in this position. He is highly knowledgeable and passionate about making sure things just work, and he's as keen to make sure that as many people as possible share that knowledge", commented GLP's president Mark Ravenhill.

"For myself, this is a natural progression within the GLP organization and I am looking forward to strengthening our technical support for our product lines," said Wake.

Filling the vacant position of regional sales manager for the Central USA is new addition - Dusty Hudgins who has worked as a lighting designe

UK - Tannoy, Lab.gruppen, Lake and White Acoustics have announced changes to the organisational structure within marketing and product management across the brands, as well as the formation of a new department to application assistance and education for all brands.

Michael Munch has been appointed to the role of VP of product management across the installation, touring, and residential market verticals. Munch joined TC Electronic in 2004, before moving to Lab.gruppen in 2006 where he enjoyed success as head of product management at Lab.gruppen and Lake.

Elsewhere, Tim Chapman has been appointed VP of marketing across all the installation and touring brands, covering the management of all marketing functions and personnel based in Coatbridge for the Tannoy, Lab.gruppen, Lake and White Acoustics brands. With a long career in audio including marketing roles at Meyer Sound, Crest

UK - Crestron has appointed Phil Breitschadel to the position of UK sales manager. Working out of the UK headquarters in Cobham, he will lead the UK's residential and commercial sales teams to help grow and develop new business, and expanding its product sales to all vertical markets. His previous position was with Verrex Ltd, a global AV integrator with offices in the USA, Asia and Europe.

"I'm really looking forward to Phil joining the Crestron team, where he can devote his considerable sales and strategic talents to meeting our business objectives," says Robin van Meeuwen, UK managing director and VP of international sales at Crestron. "As our head of UK sales, UK integrators and end-users will be well served by Phil's long-standing commitment to sales growth that can only translate into mutual business success."

"This is a fantastic opportunity for

UK - Professional loudspeaker company, EM Acoustics has appointed Dave Kelland to the position of UK sales manager. A highly experienced audio professional and already very familiar with EM Acoustics, Kelland's appointment heralds an exciting period of growth for EM Acoustics, says the company.

Kelland will be responsible for establishing, developing and maintaining EM Acoustics' growing UK business, in particular strengthening the company's dealer network as well as increasing penetration into the rental market.

"We are thrilled to have David come on board with us," says Mike Wheeler, operations director for EM Acoustics. "David has been a firm supporter of EM Acoustics since the beginning - in fact, his company, Kelco, was our very first UK dealer in 2003. We were very fortunate in that David was in a position to join us at the time we were looking for a sales

South Africa - Electrosonic SA reports the addition of Renier Smit to the Johannesburg lighting sales team. With the demand for our lighting products getting larger all the time Electrosonic had to increase their sales team in order to continue to provide the level of service our customers are used too, says the company.

Smit comes with a wealth of entertainment lighting and rigging sales experience, having spent the last six years at AC Entertainment in the UK. He was responsible for export sales to the Middle East, Europe and Africa.

"What's great about Renier is that he already has relationships with South African clients, did not need any product training and literally was quoting on his first day in the office "says Bruce Schwartz lighting division manager.

(Jim Evans)

USA - Audio-Technica has announced two appointments to its Latin American sales team. Mary Eisaman has been named sales and marketing manager for Latin America. She will be responsible for all countries in Central and South America except for Brazil. Alexandre (Alex) Algranti has been named sales and marketing director for Brazil. The announcement was made by Audio-Technica US president and CEO Philip Cajka.

Mary Eisaman joined Audio-Technica in 2008, and has served the company since then in a variety of roles, most recently as sales support manager.

Alex Algranti's previous positions have included sales and marketing responsibilities for Latin America and Brazil for Beyerdynamic and Sennheiser respectively.

Cajka stated, "Audio-Technica is strongly committed to meeting the needs of Latin America. I am confident that Alex Algranti and Mary Eisaman will help us continue

USA - Bosch Security Systems, Inc., Communications Systems Division recently named Bob Rieder as its new product marketing manager for pro sound - install. Rieder will support the Americas region by developing and implementing marketing strategies for Electro-Voice installed audio product lines.

Rieder brings a wide range of industry experience to his new position, having worked extensively in the pro audio industry and, internationally, as a radio producer and host. After working at Jensen in OEM loudspeaker design, Rieder moved into a marketing role at Shure, serving as category director for their install product lines, including wired and wireless mics, DSP, mixers, and PSM monitor systems. Rieder added an MBA to his electrical engineering and music degrees, and worked in market research and consulting before joining Bosch/Electro-Voice.

Rieder brings a lifelong passion for

UK - Martin Professional's EMEA sales organisation has announced that Eloise Bailey has joined the Martin UK sales team as project sales manager. Bailey, who joined the company on 27 September, will oversee project activities throughout Martin's UK market.

Bailey comes to Martin from an LED lighting manufacturer where she worked as a key account manager. Prior to that, she worked for an architectural design practice, handling key London redevelopment and new build projects. With a tertiary qualification in lighting design, she also has experience as a lighting designer at the National Gallery of Victoria in Australia, where she originates, and has also worked as a technician and console operator in the entertainment and live events business.

Leif Orkelbog-Andresen, business area manager for Martin EMEA Projects, commented on the new hire, stating, "I have no doubt that El

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