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14 April 2025

USA - City Theatrical founder Gary Fails has been recognised as the recipient of ESTA’s 2025 Lifetime Technical Achievement Award. This award was presented by ESTA executive director Erin Grabe at ESTA’s AGM at the Hilton Columbus Downtown Hotel in Columbus, Ohio. The event was scheduled two hours before doors opened at Columbus Convention Center for the first day of the USITT Annual Conference & Stage Expo 2025.

“I am truly humbled to be selected for this award, and it makes me reflect on my 53-year career in entertainment lighting,” said Gary Fails. “When I decided to go into manufacturing, we signed up for the ESTA membership, marketed to their member lists, and the ESTA dealer members became City Theatrical distributors, which City Theatrical still does business with today.

“I have a lot of respect for what Erin Grabe and

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07 April 2025

Europe - TMB has announced the addition of Nick Berenok to the TMB customer development team for the European, Middle Eastern, and African (EMEA) region.

Based in Nice, France, Berenok brings over 20 years of experience in entertainment technology, international sales, and software development. He has held key roles at Ayrton and Light Converse, where he successfully combined technical expertise with strategic business development across global markets. Fluent in English, Ukrainian, and Russian, and conversational in French, Berenok is known for building strong relationships across global markets. His appointment marks a strategic expansion of TMB’s reach and commitment to delivering trusted support and innovative solutions throughout Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

“I'm really excited to be joining TMB. TMB has been the backbone of Rock &am

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02 April 2025

UK - Highlite UK has announced Ben Hall as its new area account manager. Hall will work in the southern areas to maintain and build customer relationships by providing account management, technical sales and support.

In his new role, Hall will use his wealth of product knowledge, gained from several years of working in the sound and lighting sector, and his notable recent trade distribution experience, to increase awareness of Highlite’s own brands (Showtec, Infinity, DAP, DMT, Artecta, Showgear and Wentex) and well-established industry distributor brands among the existing customer network and throughout new businesses opportunities.

Speaking on his appointment, Hall said: “I am looking forward to settling in the new role and getting to know customers, finding out how valuable Highlite is to them as a key supplier and supporting the team.”

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01 April 2025

UK - TiMaxSpatial has announced the appointment of Gerry Marrone to the newly created role of product support engineer. Operating out of the new central London TiMax offices and demonstration suite which are nearing completion in Tile Yard, Kings Cross, the role will provide training and support for new TiMax users and existing deployments.

Marrone, known to many in the industry as Gerry Brown, is an experienced sound engineer who has worked for the last two years almost exclusively mixing immersive systems for live experiences, in both end-on formats and in-the-round performances.

In his new position with TiMax, Gerry will harness the customer-facing elements of the role to feedback user-experience to the product development team as well as to develop user training programmes and workshops supported by the production of new training material.

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26 March 2025

USA - DirectOut has announced the appointment of pro audio veteran Vaino Gennaro as the first point of contact for North American customers. With his extensive experience in the pro audio industry and expertise in sales, business development, and customer relations, Vaino will play a key role in expanding DirectOut’s market presence in the region.

The appointment forms the basis of a strategic growth initiative to provide even better service and advanced audio solutions to DirectOut’s North American customers. With his support, the company will further strengthen its position as a leading provider of signal processing solutions.

“Vaino brings wide-ranging experience in the professional audio industry and has a deep understanding of the market,” says Jan Ehrlich, CEO for DirectOut. “His skills have benefitted numerous leading audio brands, h

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26 March 2025

USA - Christie has announced the appointment of Hideaki Takizawa as the new chief financial officer of Christie Digital Systems, Inc. and its subsidiaries, effective 1 April 2025. Reporting to Michael Phipps, president and chief operating officer, Takizawa will align Christie’s financial strategy with its overall goals and manage internal controls and reporting to support continued growth and innovation.

Takizawa succeeds Michael Phipps, who transitioned to president and chief operating officer in November 2024 while maintaining his CFO role.

Takizawa brings more than 34 years of experience working at Ushio and a wealth of expertise in business management and finance. “We are excited to have Hideaki join us as we continue to strengthen our presence in the industry, enhance customer partnerships and create innovative AV solutions,” said Michael

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25 March 2025

UK - Fourier Audio is expanding with the addition of two new employees: Ben Evans, who has been appointed to the post of operations manager, and Ross Paterson, who now serves as product specialist. The announcement comes as Fourier Audio Co-founder and former CTO Pete Bridgman steps into the role of CEO.

Ben Evans joins the company from the Royal Albert Hall, where he managed the founding team that brought audio ‘in-house’, leading a large group of engineers in facilitating audio solutions for the 300-plus shows there per year. Prior to that, Evans has accrued decades of live sound engineering experience, predominantly in musical theatre, but also in other live audio genres. His main role with Fourier Audio will be to manage the busy day-to-day operations of the company, alongside developing relationships with plugin manufacturers across the industry.

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24 March 2025

UK - Brompton Technology is expanding its customer services team as part of its ongoing commitment to providing support at every stage of the customer journey. The newly structured team will oversee the entire process - from order processing and delivery coordination to training, technical guidance, and long-term product servicing.

Leading this initiative, Chris Grandin has been appointed director of service delivery and will join Brompton’s leadership team. Since joining the company in July 2019 as technical support manager, he has played a pivotal role in enhancing technical support services. With over two decades of experience in live entertainment and events, including previous roles as group technical advisor at Gearhouse Group and technical services supervisor at Christie Digital Systems, Grandin is well-positioned to lead this expanded function.

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24 March 2025

USA - Allen & Heath USA has announced the appointment of mixing engineer and experienced touring professional Jake Hartsfield as its new live sound and touring manager. Hartsfield, known for his work with artists such as Carly Rae Jepsen, Ben Rector, and Vulfpeck, brings expertise and a passion for audio that will significantly strengthen Allen & Heath’s commitment to live sound users.

Hartsfield's predecessor in the role, Mike Bangs, has been promoted to senior manager of live sound and touring - a new position with focus on high-level market development for touring customers and oversight of Allen & Heath training curricula.

In their new roles, Hartsfield and Bangs will both be instrumental in the expansion and delivery of Allen & Heath University, the company’s comprehensive in-person and online training programme. Drawing on h

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21 March 2025

UK - TSL Lighting has introduced three key additions to its team: Matt Farquhar, Jamie Wells, and Luke McCreary. Each of them brings considerable industry experience and knowledge, fresh perspectives, and a shared commitment to enhancing the efficiency and quality of operations.

Farquhar joined TSL in June 2024 as head of operations, overseeing IT, transport, warehouse, assets, and projects. With over 50 members of staff under his leadership and five managers, including Wells and McCreary, reporting directly to him. Farquhar plays a crucial role in driving operational efficiency and keeping TSL’s business operations aligned with growth targets.

“It’s always a bit unnerving not knowing what kind of team you’re coming into, but I’ve loved starting at TSL,” says Farquhar. “It’s been fantastic – I’ve been made to feel welcome and the

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20 March 2025

Italy - Nexo has announced the appointment of Andrea Fantini as Italian sales manager. Fantini takes over the role from his father Gianni, the familiar face of Nexo in Italy who leaves the company on 1 April.

Also like his father, Fantini joins Nexo from Joint Rent, which Gianni co-founded in 1990. During his 17-year stint with the AV technology and production services specialists, Fantini has gained extensive front-line experience in the sales, rental and deployment of Nexo systems from early Alpha and Geo T right through to the latest Geo M line array and P+ point source products.

“My time at Joint Rent has given me a great sense of the evolution of the Nexo brand and I’ve really enjoyed providing sales and technical support to customers,” comments Fantini. “Now I’m really excited to take on this new role and to draw on my experience to h

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19 March 2025

USA - Celestion has announced the appointment of Matt Daigler as business development executive. In his new role, Daigler will work together with Celestion’s valued sales and distribution partners in the US musical instrument category, the PA service market, and retailers who cater to DIY hobbyists. In addition, Daigler will be managing existing OEM relationships and pursuing new OEM partners in the pro audio and high-end home theatre markets.

Daigler joins Celestion continuing his extensive career in the audio industry that started at Westlake Audio as a mechanical assembler, then production manager, eventually moving to Harman-owned Audax of America where he worked as a sales engineer. Daigler later worked in custom residential integration for Harrison Systems, Pro Design AV, and Logic Integration. He is an audio enthusiast with personal projects repairi

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13 March 2025

USA - TVNewsCheck’s Women in Technology Awards is taking place at NAB this year, “celebrating outstanding achievements and paving the way for the next generation of women driving innovation in media and entertainment technology”.

During the 14th annual awards ceremony on Tuesday, April 8, three women will be honoured for their contributions to the future of media technology. Swati Karkun Sen, Jacqueline Voss of Riedel, and Nina Walsh of Amazon Web Services will each receive the Women in Technology Futurist Award on the West Hall Main Stage at the Las Vegas Convention Centre.

Sen has played a key role in keeping NBC News, MSNBC, and CNBC at the forefront of breaking news and development of new consumer solutions. With a deep passion for media and a strong foundation in technology, she has introduced transformative operational s

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13 March 2025

USA - Christie has announced the appointment of Sean James as executive vice-president, global sales & service, at Christie. In this new role, James will lead the sales function and continue to lead the company’s service organisation.

"Sean’s proven leadership, combined with his ability to foster strong, lasting relationships, makes him highly qualified to lead our sales and service teams," says Michael Phipps, president and chief operating officer, Christie. "His extensive experience in visual technologies and services, uniquely positions him to lead our new optimised operations to better serve our customers while ensuring long-term sustainability.”

With more than 28 years of experience at Christie, Sean James, who started his career as a field engineer servicing cinema equipment, was instrumental in developing support programmes and relat

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13 March 2025

USA - PRG (Production Resource Group) has announced promotions within its Corporate Events (CE) division, including production veteran Matt Hohmann to senior director of production services, alongside the addition of five technical directors (TDs).

Most recently serving as director of production services, Hohmann originally began his career as a lighting intern at the company before quickly ascending the ranks. His leadership in production services – and close focus on process enhancement and operational excellence – has been pivotal in managing a robust pipeline at PRG. In conjunction with Hohmann’s advancement comes the appointment of Eric Hanson, Justin Juriga, Wendy Coop, James Oyler, and Walker Harris as the division’s new technical directors.

This strategic expansion reinforces PRG’s commitment to providing expert technical guidance,

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12 March 2025

UK - The Avolites team in London is expanding with the appointment of Jon Hole as product manager, bringing with him 15 years of industry experience.

Jon’s passion for the industry was first sparked whilst working at the Northcott Theatre in Exeter, UK, as a teenager, prompting him to go on to study stage management and technical theatre at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama. Jon’s career has spanned roles within technical support, training, marketing and product management over the years.

Avolites MD Paul Wong commented: “We are thrilled to have Jon onboard. Jon’s skillset, knowledge and experience are a perfect complement to the team in our development and drive to innovate and accelerate our lighting and video control solutions.”

“I’m excited about Avolites’ product roadmap which will strengthen its value proposit

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12 March 2025

Europe - PPDS, the global provider of Philips Professional Displays and complementary solutions, has announced the appointment of international AV sales director, Fabrice Penhoat, heading a new growth chapter in its French and African markets.

With an AV career spanning over two decades – 13 years of which have been devoted exclusively to Philips Professional Displays – Penhoat takes the newly created position of business director Philips Signage and dvLED for France, the French overseas territories (Dom Tom), and Africa, and will play a leading role in the development and execution of PPDS’ digital signage and LED sales strategies in this key region.

Based in Paris and reporting to Cesar Sanz, sales director for France and Iberia, Penhoat will, in his extended position, be responsible for the implementation and execution of PPDS’ accelerated

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10 March 2025

USA - Clear-Com has announced Annabelle Gauthier as the recipient of the 2025 USITT Stage Management Award, which Clear-Com sponsors yearly. This prestigious honour, presented annually at the USITT Conference & Stage Expo, recognises an outstanding student stage manager for their dedication, leadership, and excellence in stage management.

The United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT), founded in 1960, serves as a hub for dialogue, research, and education among theatre design and technology practitioners. The annual USITT Conference & Stage Expo is a cornerstone event that connects industry professionals, educators, and students, offering a platform for networking in entertainment technology.

Clear-Com has a long-standing history of supporting industry education and professional development, aligning with USITT’s mission to adva

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10 March 2025

USA - dBTechnologies USA has announced that Darrin Young, known in the pro audio industry as B-Side, has joined the company as the new director of sales for North America. Young brings a wealth of expertise and a fresh perspective to his new role, with a proven track record in sales, marketing, training, and driving strategic market growth.

Young’s early experiences travelling internationally sparked a lifelong passion for global ventures. His professional career in the pro audio industry began in 1999 with Stanton Magnetics, where he played a key role in the company’s growth into the Stanton Group – a portfolio that includes brands like Cerwin-Vega, KRK Systems, and Stanton DJ.

Following Stanton’s acquisition by Gibson Guitars, Young was retained to support the Gibson Pro Audio division. Operating out of Nashville, TN, he travelled worldwide

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05 March 2025

Czech Republic - It is with great sadness that KV2 Audio shares the news of the passing of founder and industry pioneer George Krampera Sr.

“George had a passion for everything audio and dedicated his whole life to making the world sound better. On this journey he travelled the globe, creating market-defining products and producing revenue streams for many of the biggest names in Pro Audio. After spending time in Canada and Italy, before eventually settling back in his homeland of the Czech Republic, George earned a reputation as one of the most significant and revolutionary transducer designers in the history of modern audio.

George was a great communicator, generously sharing his skills, knowledge, and technical genius with his KV2 team, as well as the many devoted fans who travelled to meet him or followed his work online. Through KV2, George cr

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05 March 2025

UK - The Olivier Awards 2025 with Mastercard have announced that the recipients of this year’s Industry Recognition Awards are Bryan Raven, Rupert Bielby and Sue Uings.

Bryan Raven is recognised for his ‘transformative impact on the theatre sector’, from leading White Light for over 25 years, to championing sustainability, and facilitating and training a new generation of technicians through his support for TheatreCraft and White Light’s apprenticeship programme.

Rupert Bielby has ‘37 years of outstanding leadership in West End theatre operations’, shaping some of London’s most iconic venues. His dedication, particularly in guiding LW Theatres through the challenges of Covid and reopening, has left a lasting impact on the industry.

Sue Uings is recognised for her ‘exceptional contributions to theatre marketing and ti

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05 March 2025

USA - tvONE has announced the appointment of Michael Huth as Southeast regional sales manager in the United States and Oli Fritz as regional sales manager for the DACH region (Germany, Austria, and Switzerland).

Michael Huth’s appointment comes after Jonathan Begleiter, former Southeast regional sales manager, was promoted to the director of sales (NCSA) position earlier this year. Huth brings extensive experience from the projector, display, and direct view LED industry, having worked with leading manufacturers such as Panasonic, Vanguard LED, Salitek, and MAXHUB. His background also includes hands-on expertise as a technical video specialist with the Walt Disney World Company and in the rental & staging industry.

Oli Fritz joins tvONE with a wealth of knowledge in the AV industry, previously serving as a sales manager at Bosch, where he was r

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05 March 2025

USA - Lectrosonics has announced the hiring of Jonathan von Rentzell as Central US regional sales and technical manager. Jonathan will play a key role in Lectrosonics’ business across 19 states: North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Nebraska, Colorado, Utah, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Indianna, Iowa, Missouri, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Michigan.

Jonathan comes to Lectrosonics from an extensive background in the pro audio and musical instrument industry. Beginning with a fine arts education, he earned an audio engineering degree from SAE Institute in Amsterdam, then helped record such notable artists as singer Jennifer Hudson at staple Chicago studios like Pressure Point and Urban Recording. Recently, was also the sole US representative for Dotterel Technologies, a company specializing in isolation mics designed to ca

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28 February 2025

UK - Adamson Systems Engineering has announced a new appointment to its team, aimed at expanding the company’s presence in the UK.

Vince Borrelli will take up the role of business development manager for the UK and Ireland, bringing with him many years of experience, gained within the professional loudspeaker manufacturing market.

According to Adamson’s EMEA sales director, Jasper Ravesteijn, Borrelli is the perfect fit. “With such an experienced addition to the team we have found the right business development manager for the UK. He impressed me when I worked with him in the past with his professionalism, attitude and great sense of humour. I always wanted to work with him again.

“This is the first hire for Adamson in the development of a much broader UK strategy, and it’s just the beginning,” continues Ravesteijn. “This appoin