USA - We are sad to report that Rupert Neve, an innovator and business owner whose analogue audio equipment designs have become an essential component in music recording, live sound production and home hi-fi systems, passed away on February 12, 2021 in Wimberley, Texas, due to non-Covid pneumonia and heart failure. He was 94.
A statement from Rupert Neve Designs reads: “Rupert Neve’s impact on the audio industry can hardly be overstated. It’s no exaggeration to say that millions of people worldwide listen to music every day that was produced using equipment incorporating Rupert’s designs somewhere in the process, from the vocal recording to the final mix, if not from beginning to end.
His designs, ranging from large-format mixing consoles to compact 500 series modules, are ubiquitous, and may be found anywhere from the largest production facilities to the most

UK - The team behind Lightware Visual Engineering UK & Ireland has announced the appointment of Craig McQueen as head of business development.
“I’m very excited to be joining the Lightware family,” says McQueen who has 26 years’ industry experience. “As a brand that is very well known for its quality and reliability, I look forward to sharing a number of exciting developments with our customers and partners.”
McQueen will be responsible for furthering the growth of the brand in the UK and Ireland and will partner with the sales team.
“Craig McQueen joins us at an exciting time as we continue to grow the Corporate business,” says Craig Storey, sales director UK & Ireland. “Craig will play an integral role in further strengthening our presence in the UK market. His wealth of industry and product knowledge will serve him well in his positi

UK - Sound design and music production studio String and Tins has announced that Rachel Hough, who joined as EP in summer 2020, has stepped up to the position of managing director and award-winning sound designer and composer Culum Simpson also joins the team.
With over a decade of experience, Culum Simpson has worked in advertising, long form, feature film and video games, procuring a long list of loyal clients spanning agencies, production companies, and developers on both independent and global scales.
“Having worked with Mike at Jungle many years ago,” says Simpson. “I feel like I've always had an eye on String and Tins’ success. It's been amazing to see the studio gaining traction over the years, growing from its humble beginnings to the creative powerhouse it is today. Having the opportunity to work alongside Mike, Will and the rest of the team here is ve

UK - LSi is sad to report the passing of respected lighting designer Jon Pope earlier this month.
Having worked in rock’n’roll and corporate lighting, in recent years Jon was well-known for his work lighting productions for simultaneous live and TV audiences, including Crufts and the Windsor and Olympia horse shows. He leaves behind wife Barbara, daughter Sam and son Lewis.
Jon’s son Lewis has issued the following statement:
“Dear friends and colleagues, it is with great sadness that I have to announce the death of my father, Jon Pope. He passed on Wednesday evening after a sudden and catastrophic brain haemorrhage. His family were able to be at his side until he passed.
“He was such a big man, not just in terms of stature but kindness and talent too, that there is now a great void left in all of our hearts. We know that he impacted many people

Europe - Creative Technology (CT) UK has announced the formalisation of its new dedicated systems integration team for the UK and European integration market.
This long-term planned expansion that CT UK have been working towards over the last few years was accelerated by the rapid growth in customer demand for support in implementing permanent solutions and strengthened with the acquisition of Ion Solutions (now CT Ireland) back in 2019, says the company. Graeme Bunyan and Jack Strong are joining the CT team.
As director of technology, Graeme led the design development and technology strategy on major international projects including the UAE Pavilion at Milan Expo 2015 and the Opportunity Pavilion at Dubai Expo 2020, V&A Dundee (2019) to name just a few.
“Joining CT is an opportunity of a lifetime,” says Bunyan. “I am looking forward to working with so

USA - Renkus-Heinz has appointed Dudley McLaughlin to the position of national sales manager and Garrison Parkin to the position of western regional sales manager effective 1 February. The positions both cover the North American region.
McLaughlin has been with Renkus-Heinz since he was hired as western regional sales manager in 2018. Parkin joined the company in 2019 as southwestern territory sales manager.
“Dudley and Garrison are both important members of the Renkus-Heinz family,” said Harro Heinz, chairman and co-founder of Renkus-Heinz. “And while their success is well documented prior to 2020, it took commitment by everyone on our team to ensure we continued shipping product and supporting our partners over the past year. Dudley and Garrison are prime examples of that commitment. Their promotions will help us better serve our partners going into 2021 and be

Italy - Prolights has expanded its film and television division with the appointment of film lighting veteran Davide Bernarello as business development manager. Bernarello brings over three decades of experience across manufacturers, distributors and technical operator, having worked previously for companies including ARRI and Desisti.
“We are thrilled to be welcoming Davide to our team as we look ahead to 2021 with a positive outlook into the future of our company,” comments Fabio Sorabella, managing director at Prolights. “Davide will certainly be able to bring an important contribution within product and business development in a growing division for our organisation, through his extensive international experience.”
“I'm truly excited to be joining an emerging family company such as Prolights,” comments Bernarello. “Their dynamic attitude is very stimu

USA - PK Sound has announced the appointment of James Oliver as chief strategy officer. Reporting directly to founder and CEO Jeremy Bridge, Oliver is responsible for ‘the development, communication, execution, and sustainment of strategic corporate initiatives’. Oliver has also joined the company’s ownership group.
Oliver comes to PK Sound following a seven-year tenure with Adamson Systems Engineering, most recently serving as director of marketing and sales. Throughout that stint, he spearheaded the development of turnkey system offerings and a sglobal distribution network that led to exponential year-over-year growth for the manufacturer.
“Joining PK was the easiest transition of my career. The culture of the organisation and technological advancements of the product line are completely in tune with the live events industry of tomorrow,” comments Oliver.

France - Audio equipment manufacturer Digigram has announced the appointment of a new management team, effective this month. Three company senior executives step up as directors.
Florence Marchal is appointed as director of finance, human resources, and legal affairs. A senior Digigram staff member, Florence has gained a 360° expertise since she joined Digigram in 2000 and became the company’s CFO.
Nancy Diaz Curiel is appointed as director of sales, marketing and communications. Since 2010, Singapore-based Nancy has overseen Asian & Pacific operations including products distribution. While remaining in Singapore, Nancy’s new role will include the supervision of teams and projects worldwide, always injecting her legendary energy to create new momentums for Digigram.
Xavier Allanic, Digigram’s current VP sales EMEA & Americas since 2018, steps up as

UK - Video specialist Observatory has expanded its senior team with the addition of Kelly Faller as director of marketing. Kelly, originally from New York, will ‘leverage her extensive events experience and fan engagement expertise to expand the global footprint of the business’.
“Kelly brings a skill set that will strengthen and drive expansion for the business,” says Observatory founder and creative director, Ben Sheppee. “We have been looking to develop our portfolio in fashion and lifestyle, where she has extensive experience. Our existing clients can look forward to an industry expert bringing her knowledge and understanding to the vision of engaging audiences, so we are thrilled to have Kelly add to and grow Observatory, building on our award-winning conceptual visual offering.”
Kelly has worked in New York for both digital media and creative producti

UK - Creative business development agency Collaborative Creations has appointed David March as associate director. March brings over three decades of experience across manufacturers, rental production houses and big-name brands in the world of technical entertainment to the Collaborative Creations team. These include: AED, VER, Phillips Entertainment, PRG and most recently, Green Hippo.
Collaborative Creations offers a range of plug-in services to events companies, which include business development and sales support, social media planning, website content, case studies, coaching and more. As the pandemic forced many businesses to look at cutting costs, Collaborative Creations provided a cost-effective alternative to full-time marketing and business development professionals.
Collaborative Creations director Tom Wilkes comments: “We’ve known and respected David f

France - Digital Projection has hired Jérôme Cadilhac as its business development manager for the South of France, effective immediately.
Cadilhac will report to Digital Projection’s EMEA sales and marketing manager Dirk Siedle, as well as working closely with Stéphane Bourdon, Digital Projection’s historical sales manager for France, Spain, Portugal, and North Africa.
“I have been working in the audio-visual world since 2006,” says Cadilhac. “After five years at French AV wholesaler, IXAM, I spent nine years at Christie Digital Systems, where I was first in charge of projector, LED, and media server distribution in the South of France, then across the country for the company’s new ‘Enterprise’ vertical.
“These 14 years of experience in the field mean that I have an excellent grasp of the various distribution networks in France and have buil

Middle East - L-Acoustics has announced the appointment of two regional industry experts to support existing partners and grow the company’s presence in key vertical markets. Over the last decade, the region has been supported by L-Acoustics sales manager, Peter Owen, who will now concentrate on developing key territories in Russia and Eastern Europe.
The appointment of a new, dedicated and locally based team will allow the company to nurture new and closer relationships in the Middle East, India and East Africa. Chris Mead, sales manager for the Middle East, India, and East Africa will build relationships and develop business in the region while Rahul Samuel, application engineer for the Middle East and India, will provide technical support, design assistance and training to partners and projects throughout the area.
“The Middle East and India regions are very div

UK - Stuart Gibbons, managing director at Le Mark Group Ltd, was awarded with an OBE for services to International Trade in the Queens New Year’s Honours List 2021.
Since Le Mark’s founding in 1982, Gibbons has always had a passion for exporting and expanding the company into international markets. The company has a reputation within the arts and entertainment industry for product excellence and award-winning British design and innovation. Now, in the additional role of a Department for International Trade Export Champion, Gibbons continues to encourage and advise British regional companies to embark on the path of exporting.
Gibbons’ voluntary career has encompassed the position of vice-chairman of the Global Trade Network; founding chairman of the Huntingdonshire Manufacturing Association and the GCGP Business Advisory Panel; and he is currently chairman of the

UK - Anthony Morgan has been appointed as technical director of Baldwin Boxall, with Dave Boxall still very much involved in the business and with his new title of founding director.
Morgan has been with the company for over six years and leads a strong R&D team, alongside Boxall. “I thoroughly enjoy coming to work every single day,” says Morgan. “It is the people at Baldwin Boxall that make it so great, we truly have a fantastic, friendly and professional team.”
As an active member of many board committees in the industry, Morgan is well-versed in the multitude of aspects of life safety and is well-placed to continue Dave Boxall’s hard work, the company says.
Sales and marketing director, Nick Baldwin, comments: “We are very pleased to welcome Anthony to the board of directors and we know he is the perfect fit for this role”.

USA - Loudspeaker manufacturer KV2 Audio has announced the appointment of Paul Freudenberg to the position of business development director, US, effective immediately. Freudenberg’s career spans over 25 years with a number of leading pro audio manufacturers including L-Acoustics, AKG, BSS Audio and Aphex Systems.
Freudenberg will be immediately charged with the task of setting up direct distribution offices in Los Angeles, CA. The aim is to further enhance user and reseller relations as well as complement the existing market development activities being conducted by Plusmusic US, which continues to function on behalf of KV2 Audio as an official Value-added Reseller in the US market and independent sales representative (North-east region).
“Our new distribution facility on the west coast complements the existing activities of the eastern US and Canada regions,” sa

UK - Lancashire-based LED lighting manufacturer CFE Lighting has taken on its first apprentice as it looks to accelerate growth and build on its strongest ever trading performance over the last 12 months.
16 year-old Jack Davies has started an 18-month long LEAN Engineering apprenticeship with the company, with the aim of becoming a qualified engineer and securing a permanent role within the rapidly growing business.
Over the course of his apprenticeship, Jack, who lives in nearby Nelson, will be working across a variety of different areas within the company, which specialises in bespoke LED luminaires and lighting solutions for commercial, industrial, and public sectors.
His role will see him work with the manufacturing team to learn how to assemble a vast range of light fittings and controls, as well as being involved with both the sales and customer services te

UK - Creative video specialist Observatory has expanded its senior team with the addition of Simon Harris.
A well-known figure in the visual production world having previously worked for Bryte Design, Green Hippo and Avolites, Simon brings extensive technical video project management and production experience to his new role. Working closely with Observatory founder and principal designer Ben Sheppee, he will be responsible for expanding the global footprint of the business.
“Simon brings a skill set that will strengthen and drive expansion for the business,” says Sheppee. “We have been looking to provide our clients with better technical consultation and end-to-end solutions for our productions, as we continue to innovate with emerging technologies. New and existing clients can look forward to benefiting from Simon’s in-depth knowledge and vision of engaging

USA - Eastern Acoustic Works (EAW) has announced the appointment of pro audio veteran Michael Palmer as its director of US sales.
In his new role at EAW, Palmer is overseeing all aspects of sales throughout the US, working closely with manufacturer’s sales reps and regional sales managers. He will liaise with EAW’s installation and touring applications teams as well as consultants, contractors and concert/event production companies.
“We reached a point where it was crucial to strengthen our sales leadership to guide our talented sales team to the next level,” says Marco Breda, chief executive officer of EAW. “Palmer’s stellar reputation, knowledge and relationships with key decision makers in our industry make him the ideal candidate to catapult us to the next level.”
With over 30 years of experience in the audio industry, Palmer comes to EAW from

UK - Audiologic has announced that Rob Davies has joined the team as national account manager.
Davis joins Audiologic with a career background in audio which spans multiple sectors, including high-end car audio, hi-fi, home cinema, home automation and, for the last six years, pro audio. His experience covers retailers and installation companies but mainly account management for UK distributors, which is where he feels most at home. He has been involved with projects as diverse as theatres, town halls, sports halls, night clubs and cruise ships.
Andy Lewis, managing director, Audiologic, comments: “We are proud to welcome Rob Davies into a role that we have been keen to develop for some time. Due to an increase in larger and more demanding projects, we are keen to ensure that every one of our customers has access to the full suite of services we can provide. Rob will

UK - IPS has announced the appointment of experienced staging specialist Phil Addyman as a project manager.
The company has added "some exciting new outdoor structures" and following extensive infrastructure investment in this area, Addyman will be helping to lead the deployment of Outdoor Roof Systems and Staging projects across the broad IPS customer base.
He has extensive experience, having spent many years working for Star Live (known previously as Star Events) and been involved with many different projects all over the UK and further afield. IPS has completed a range of Staging & Structure projects over the last few months, and IPS MD James Mason is excited to welcome the new recruit to the team, saying "the structures side of our business has helped keep everything running through what has been a very tricky 2020, and with our product range expandi

UK - Production Park has announced four senior hires to lead its £7m research and development (R&D) project in Wakefield.
The project, XPLOR, will be used to deliver a support programme to facilitate growth for SMEs across the live events industry, and will be headed up by Jim Farmery, former partnerships lead at Creative England.
Farmery has been announced as XPLOR’s development director and will oversee the day-to-day running of the facility. Upon completion in spring 2022, the site will become one of the UK’s first specialist innovation centres in the live events industry, with sector comparisons being made with the world-leading film and television institution, Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire.
Engaging with organisations and researching opportunities for the facility, Farmery’s role will see him build awareness of the centre, not only with

Europe - It is with great sadness that Nexo has announced the death of Sergio Caprara, sales manager in Italy and a long-time employee of the company.
Sergio started working as the exclusive distributor for Nexo in Italy in 1982, just three years after the company was founded, and he quickly became a key player in the young loudspeaker manufacturing business. A former front-of-house engineer who discovered he preferred the commercial environment of equipment sales, he was able to bring real-world influence to his collaborations with Nexo’s charismatic technical director Eric Vincenot.
In 2002, he moved into a full-time role managing sales in Italy, Slovenia, Croatia and Albania. One of his first dealership appointments for Nexo Italy was Audio Rent, the rental and sales company run by his great friend Gianni Fantini. “I’ve known Sergio for 40 years, and he never

The Netherlands - PPDS has announced the appointment of marketing specialist, Marion Chaignon, as its new marketing campaign manager, EMEA.
Part of PPDS’ continued recruitment and team strengthening across the European business, Marion brings a wealth of marketing experience to this important role, having executed major campaigns for some of the world’s most recognised technology brands, including Samsung Electronics, Asus, Nikon, HP, Lenovo and Logitech during her flourishing 12-year career.
Bilingual in French and English, and university-educated in business and business marketing, Marion joins PPDS from Red Pimiento, where she spent almost six years under various EMEA roles, including account director, project director and team manager.
Her roles have providing extensive marketing experience in promoting a wide range of specific industries, including reta

Latest Issue. . .

Save
Cookies user preferences
We use cookies to ensure you to get the best experience on our website. If you decline the use of cookies, this website may not function as expected.
Accept all
Decline all
Analytics
Tools used to analyze the data to measure the effectiveness of a website and to understand how it works.
Google Analytics
Accept
Decline
Advertisement
If you accept, the ads on the page will be adapted to your preferences.
Google Ad
Accept
Decline