"We've been serving clients throughout Asia for many years from our offices in North America and the UK," Harris explained. "The establishment of an Asian subsidiary is an important step in the expansion of our client support services in Asia."
PRG has more than a decade of experience serving clients in Asia in projects including theatre installations, theme park attractions, concert tours and corporate and special events. PRG Asia Inc will be engaged in business development and client support for all types of PRG products and services.
Makoto Yamazaki will serve as president of Asian Operations for the new subsidiary. Yamazaki joined the entertainment industry over 20 years ago as an assistant stage manager for the Tokyo Production of Cats. While serving as technical director for the Japanese tours of Cats and Phantom of the Opera, he devised a theatre-in-a-theatre system by packaging scenery, lighting, and sound as one traveling unit. Over the past 10 years, he has played instrumental roles in Shiki Theatrical Company's design and renovation of theatres throughout Asia, including the Beijing Theatre, Kyoto Theatre, and Osaka Mainichi Hall.
"We are very fortunate to have someone with Yamazaki-san's level of experience oversee the operations of our new Asian subsidiary," said John Swain, a veteran of many PRG projects in Asia and the primary North American contact for the new subsidiary. "I can think of no one else who has built more theatres in Asia. Yamazaki's experience includes all phases of theatre development, from architectural design and construction through installation and operation of the entertainment systems."
"I've been a satisfied client of PRG for over 10 years," said Yamazaki. "It's with great pleasure that I now look forward to leading PRG's business development and client support efforts in Asia."
Kevin Baxley, PRG's Chief Operating Officer, will serve as Chairman of the new subsidiary.
(Lee Baldock)
