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05 November 2024

UK - LSi is saddened to report the passing of Jack Thompson, long-time technical director of the Manchester International Festival and one of the key forces behind Factory/Aviva Studios, the Festival’s new home base in the City.

Well known and hugely popular throughout the industry, Jack’s early years were spent in the lighting department of theatres including the Birmingham Rep, the Belgrade in Coventry, the Derby Playhouse and Manchester’s Library and Royal Exchange theatres, as well as freelancing across the country. He was the lighting designer for DV8 Physical Theatre through most of the 1990s, and was a project manager for White Light North from the mid 1990s to mid 2000s. Amongst his many projects at White Light was delivering the Northumberland Lights outdoor winter lighting scheme, the precursor to the many popular winter light trails of today

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29 October 2024

Australia - LSC Control Systems has made a significant new addition to its Melbourne HQ operations team with the appointment of a new general manager, Greg Lowe.

With 30 years’ experience in high-tech manufacturing, much of it within the global automotive supply chain, Lowe has previously held positions as general manager, managing director and non-executive director, at both domestic and multinational businesses.

In this senior management role at LSC, he is responsible for overseeing LSC’s daily operations, with particular attention to its expanding production line.

“I’m delighted to join the team at LSC Control Systems,” says Lowe. “It’s a company with a 40-year legacy of innovation and an enviable reputation in its market, not just at home in Australia, but internationally. Its expansion has been achieved by products of its o

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25 October 2024

USA - Bandit Lites has announced the promotion of Andrew Ellis to project manager. Ellis brings considerable knowledge of hands-on touring experience to this position, where he will plan, direct, and coordinate with Bandit’s clients to ensure the goals and objectives are accomplished within defined budget and time frames.

Bandit Lites’ Jake Tickle hired Ellis as a freelance lighting technician in 2018 before he joined full time in 2021. While at Bandit, Ellis served as a tech and crew chief on several tours including Rob Thomas, Alanis Morissette, Shinedown, Jason Aldean, Breaking Benjamin, Stick Figure and The Marley Brothers.

“Andrew has continually shown an appetite to learn more and be better, not only better himself, but by bringing ideas that will better our company and our process,” said Tickle. “He tackles every challenge head on. I

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24 October 2024

UK - Video Design has announced the sudden and unexpected passing of its managing director, Alex Leinster on 22 October. The company remains open for business with Alex’s father, Paul Leinster, taking over day-to-day control.

An initial statement from Video Design reads: “It is with great sadness that we are letting you know that Alex Leinster, managing director of Video Design died suddenly and unexpectedly yesterday, 22 October. Alex will be greatly missed by all who knew him - family, friends, colleagues, business partners and all those he knew in the events industry.”

Bedfordshire-based rental company Video Design was founded by Alex in 2015 and has gone on to provide services for large-scale arena tours by the likes of Take That, Jeff Lynne’s ELO, Tears for Fears, Gorillaz, Stormzy and Bring Me the Horizon.

Paul Leinster can be r

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23 October 2024

Portugal - NEXT Audiogroup has announced the appointment of David Ferreira as its new export sales executive. Ferreira’s extensive experience in the pro audio industry includes key roles at Pioneer Pro Audio, Martin Audio, EAW, and Mackie.

“It’s such an exciting time to be joining NEXT Audiogroup,” says Ferreira. “The company has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years, especially with the launch of NEXT Audiocom. Despite this rapid expansion, NEXT Audiogroup has never wavered in its commitment to delivering excellent products and innovative solutions. I am proud and excited to be part of the NEXT Audiogroup family and look forward to our journey together.”

Sergio Pinto, NEXT Audiogroup’s sales manager, adds: “We are thrilled to have David Ferreira on board. His extensive experience and impressive track record in the pro audio indus

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18 October 2024

UK - LSi is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Brian Croft – Crofty to just about everyone in the industry - who died peacefully in hospital on Wednesday October 16th, his family around him.

Brian was a key figure in entertainment lighting and production, beginning in theatre (he was a member of the original National Youth Theatre company in 1956, going on to train at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School then to jobs at Perth Rep and Stratford-upon-Avon before returning to the NYT as production manager), moving to the new ICA in London as it opened, starting to perform liquid light shows with fellow NYT member John Brown and forming a lighting supply company, ESP, with him. The company would go on to supply lighting to the likes of The Who, David Bowie. Elton John, Queen and others.

Through a series of mergers, ESP became part of Ele

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21 October 2024

USA - Elation has announced the hiring of professional brand strategist Braven Greenelsh as the company’s chief marketing officer. In addition to being an entrepreneur and award-winning thought leader in brand development, Greenelsh has a strong background in corporate identity and product design. He has collaborated with the Elation team for many years and contributed to the success of several of Elation’s top brands, including PROTEUS and Obsidian Control Systems.   

Toby Velazquez, CEO of Elation and president of the ADJ Group, comments: “We have always valued our brand as a vital part of our business, and as we continue to relentlessly push boundaries in design, engineering, quality, and reliability, I’ve personally recognised the need to amplify our marketing efforts. This is why we made the decision to invest in a proven visionary like Braven

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18 October 2024

MENA - Brompton Technology has announced the appointment of Hassan Abu Minshar as technical sales manager for the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region. Hassan brings to his new role over two decades of experience in the Pro AV industry and in live events.

Prior to joining Brompton, Hassan worked with image processing manufacturer Analog Way where he successfully managed sales and operations in the Middle East, and built strong relationships with rental and staging companies, AV system integrators and LED manufacturers. His proven track record makes him an excellent addition to Brompton's team.

Hassan states, “I am thrilled to be part of a company that I have long admired for its commitment to delivering exceptional award-winning products. Brompton’s reputation for innovation and customer support aligns perfectly with my own values. I look f

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18 October 2024

Europe - JOYNED has announced that Morten Lave, former CEO of TC Applied Technologies and most recently principal of All Access Consulting, is joining the company as chief technology officer (CTO) effective immediately. Lave will spearhead JOYNED’s R&D efforts, using his AVB/Milan software expertise to elevate the company’s audio networking solutions and drive innovation.

Lave’s' AVB/Milan software will now be integrated into JOYNED’s suite of offerings, providing a complete end-to-end solution - from endpoints to AVB switches - while remaining true to JOYNED’s commitment to open standards. This is a significant step in JOYNED’s mission to democratize network technology for the audio industry, ensuring that cutting-edge solutions are accessible to everyone, from engineers to musicians.

"As the audio industry moves towards greater stan

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18 October 2024

USA - ACT Entertainment has appointed James Oliver to the position of vice president of strategic partnerships. Oliver has been tasked with developing a live sound division that mirrors the success ACT has created for its other partners in the entertainment space.

“We are pleased to have James join us in our efforts to increase ACT’s position as a leader in the professional audio market,” says Dale Williams, president and COO of ACT Entertainment. “James brings decades of technology-focused sales, marketing and strategic planning experience that will be pivotal in our initiatives. PK Sound has been a welcome addition to our wide array of product offerings, and I am confident that James will help further drive growth across all our product lines.” 

Oliver previously served as partner and chief strategy officer at PK Sound. During his tenure

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16 October 2024

USA - Powersoft has announced the appointment of Mitch Rauch as its new sales director for the US market.

Mitch, formerly of Opticis, Vivitek and BenQ, among other well-known AV industry names, will be based in Powersoft’s US headquarters in Flanders, New Jersey. There, he will focus on driving growth in existing verticals while also exploring new opportunities for Powersoft’s audio technologies.

“I’ve spent over two decades managing professional AV channels, and I see huge potential for growth with Powersoft,” says Mitch. “The reputation of the brand is rock solid, and the people within the company are committed to delivering best-in-class service to both our dealer base and the venues we work with. That level of dedication is something I’m excited to be a part of.”

Tom Knesel, general manager and COO of Powersoft US, comment

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15 October 2024

UK - Andy Booth has joined the d&b solutions team as senior contracts manager within the integration team. Andy will play a key role in overseeing projects across our brands, White Light and SFL.

Andy brings considerable expertise in lighting, audio, and large-scale project management, having worked on impressive international projects such as theme parks in the UAE, as well as notable projects in Singapore and Africa. His longstanding collaboration with White Light includes high-profile projects like Jonnie Walker Princes Street, Rose Bruford College, Sky News Studios, World Heartbeat Music Academy, and the Royal Festival Hall. A career highlight for Andy was leading the house and work lighting refurbishment of the Royal Albert Hall, delivered for White Light.

“I’m thrilled to join d&b solutions,” says Andy. “Having already worked wi

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15 October 2024

UK - Martin Audio has announced the appointment of Simon Honywill as its new market development manager for live sound, production, and immersive audio markets.

Honywill’s appointment follows a long association with Martin Audio. "I’m utterly thrilled about this new role," he said. "After years of working as a sound engineer, I’ve been looking for a way to bring my expertise to a broader market and make a bigger impact. This role with Martin Audio offers me exactly that opportunity. I’ve always admired the company’s innovation, and now I have the chance to be part of shaping its future.”

As market development manager, Honywill will spearhead efforts to expand Martin Audio’s presence in the live sound and immersive audio markets. His new responsibilities will involve working globally, with a particular focus on Europe and the Middle East

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09 October 2024

Germany - Sommer cable has announced changes to its management team, effective from 1 October. Maximilian Blanck and Marie-Kathrin Huber have joined the management of the Straubenhardt-based company. They will succeed Friedhelm Sommer, the co-founder and long-standing managing director, who is taking his retirement.

As the children of Rainer Blanck, the co-founder and CEO of Sommer cable, both have had a direct relation to the company since their childhood. Among other things, Maximilian developed the SYSBOXX configurator in the course of his studies. Since October 2023, he has been supporting Sommer cable's entrepreneurship, sales and product management as well as the IT management and was co-responsible for the new website of the company's online shop.

Marie-Kathrin Huber (née Blanck) also joined the company in August 2023. Following her years of

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08 October 2024

UK - Obsidian Control Systems has announced the hiring of Edward Smith as the company’s new product support and development specialist. Smith is an authority in entertainment lighting control systems and a valued professional that Obsidian has been eager to bring on board for some time.

“Like many say, patience is a virtue, and finding the right individual for this role was all about patience,” stated Koy Neminathan, business development director at Obsidian. “The Obsidian team and I have been monitoring Edward for some time and we are delighted to welcome him on board.”

Smith brings solid experience to the position from his previous role as a control product specialist at Zero 88 / Vari-Lite, where he worked providing technical support, software testing, product development, training, and demonstrations for lighting consoles and data distr

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04 October 2024

UK - LSi is sad to report the passing of software and media server pioneer, Richard Bleasdale (1965-2024) at the end of September.

Rob Halliday writes: “Richard Bleasdale was one of those backstage artists whose work was never recognised in itself by the show-going public, but which enabled remarkable work by others that was, in some cases becoming era-defining. Some of these ‘secret’ backstage artists work in wood, some in metal, some in fabric. Richard’s medium was software: software which enabled shows to happen in entirely new ways.

Like a fair number of others in this industry, Richard studied at Imperial College in London, theatre a distraction from the actual course that would go on to shape his working life. Working at Vari-Lite at a time where you’d have one lighting console for the conventional lights and another for the moving li

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27 September 2024

UAE - Audio-Technica has announced the appointment of Akhil Raphael as technical sales manager for the Middle East region. Raphael brings a decade of extensive audio industry experience to the company.

In his new role, Raphael will play a pivotal role in strengthening the company’s direct presence in the GCC. He will be instrumental in collaborating with key end-users, design consultants, system integrators and rental houses. His expertise will support Audio-Technica’s regional distribution partner, GSL Professional, ensuring that customers across the GCC receive exceptional service and support.

“I am thrilled to join Audio-Technica and contribute to the company’s continued success in the Middle East,” said Raphael. “I look forward to leveraging my experience to build strong partnerships and deliver outstanding solutions that meet the div

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25 September 2024

USA - Bandit Lites continues its transformation in its Gen8 leadership with the promotion of Sophie Phillips to technical services manager.

Phillips earned her BFA in Lighting Design and Technology from Kent State University. While in school, she worked at Cedar Point, Porthouse Theatre, and was the president of the technical theatre group for two years. She joined Bandit Lites in 2021 as a moving light technician. Now as the technical services manager, Phillips will oversee the entirety of Bandit’s Technical Service Department, a move that she says makes her feel “empowered”.

“I have grown a lot over the last three years and am ready and willing to start a new generation of Bandits,” said Phillips. “Michael T. Strickland is at his core a leader, and his ability to trust people and move forward is a skill. He has taught me that being a ma

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23 September 2024

UK - Following the appointment of Tom Anstey and Aurora Harrington in June this year, Spotlight Sound is expanding once again with a new hire. It means the team has increased by 50% this year as demand for their services grows.

The event production and AV installation company has welcomed Chloe Richardson as marketing executive this month. Chloe has considerable experience in marketing, having joined from Acclaim Handling after three years.

Director of Spotlight Sound, Sam Dimond, says: “Chloe has joined us after a thorough search for a top marketing executive. It was Chloe’s experience and skills that really stood out as she has worked in all areas of digital marketing and across many sectors. Chloe will work on steering our marketing strategy to reach our target audience and has already settled into the team really well.

“2025 is look

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18 September 2024

UK - Backup Tech has announced the latest Backup Ambassadors. Backup trustee, Koy Neminathan, has overseen the ambassador programme and is delighted to introduce Chris West, Lee House, Luke Edwards, Paul Jones and Amber Etra.

Ambassadors spread the word about what Backup does to the wider industry, encouraging companies to become Backup partners and helping individuals raise money for Backup through fundraising initiatives. Ambassadors also attend live activities, meetings and events, including the annual Backup Village Fete.

It is a great way to get involved with the charity and help get others involved, too. Chris, Lee, Luke and Amber explain why they decided to get involved with Backup and what they hope to achieve for the charity.

Chris West runs West Training Services and decided to become an ambassador to help ensure the future of the c

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18 September 2024

UK - Karoliina Helin has joined 3LR Lighting as in-house architectural lighting designer.

A native of Finland, Helin’s lighting career started after she graduated from UWE with a degree in Interior Architecture. Realising the power that lighting could have within a space, one she describes as “artistic, creative and technical all at the same time”, she joined re:Light in Bristol where she worked as senior lighting designer. She has since worked for Satore Studio in Cardiff as well as being a freelance lighting designer, during which time she collaborated with 3LR on hundreds of projects.

Helin comments: “I am thrilled to officially become a part of 3LR Lighting. Over the past three years, I’ve worked with Matt and the team on countless occasions, and we share the same passion of bringing spaces to life through lighting; particularly driven

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18 September 2024

Germany - Diversified, a leading global technology solutions provider, has announced the appointment of Johannes Stehr as vice-president of Enterprise EMEA. This strategic hire underscores Diversified's commitment to developing world-class enterprise offerings and addressing the growing demand for consistent global technology standards with robust local support.

In this newly created role, Stehr will lead Diversified's expansion of Workplace and Media operational capabilities across Europe, with an initial focus on Germany. His appointment marks a significant step in Diversified's global strategy to enhance its ability to serve multinational enterprises with a harmonised approach to technology deployment and support.

"As organisations increasingly seek standardised technology experiences across their global footprint, they also require deep local exp

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17 September 2024

USA - Avid has appointed Alex Hofstrand as product manager for live sound after an extensive selection process. Hofstrand brings to the role a decade of experience with Avid’s live sound product line, having started in quality assurance for the launch of Avid Venue | S6L. He then moved into a product design role for Venue in 2022, managing new features and hardware updates to meet the demands of the touring and installed sound markets. 

“I’m excited and grateful for this opportunity to keep making Venue the best system an engineer can ask for,” says Hofstrand. “I’ve spent years on Venue systems because they just make sense. The Avid live sound team is a passionate group of people, always pushing to that next big thing to change the industry, and I look forward to delivering continued value for Venue customers.”

Rich Nevens, Sr. directo

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11 September 2024

France - Brompton Technology has announced the appointment of Laurent Theurin as technical sales manager for France. Theurin brings over two decades of experience in the audiovisual industry, with more than 10 years specialising in image processing.

Starting his career in the late 90s, Theurin held various positions, ranging from technical support to software workflow creation and UX design, as well as project management and customer training. His past experience includes working with prestigious companies such as INSEAD, UTRAM, and Barco.

“Image quality, reliability, and innovation are what I love about my job,” says Theurin. “For these reasons, I’m thrilled to join the motivated and professional team at Brompton Technology. I know their LED processors reach all my expectations, and I’m proud to present and support their products for profe