USA - GLP Inc. has appointed Tyler Wise as its new director, sales & marketing (Americas). He brings more than 20 years of experience spanning the entire production management spectrum – in particular within the live events, integration and entertainment technology sector.
His knowledge of production lighting was honed during his time with prominent professional audio and lighting distribution company, Group One, where he was national sales manager of the lighting division, and as business development lead for Production Resource Group (PRG), the global service provider, which is where he first came into contact with GLP.
Wise’s experience in sales and marketing made him the perfect candidate for the position, as GLP Inc. president Mark Ravenhill emphasised. “Having known Tyler for many years, I am delighted that he is joining GLP to lead our sales and marketing teams,” says Ravenhill. “He is an accomplished professional who will bring a breadth of experience and knowledge that will bolster the company in a whole new way.”
“GLP has such a great history of quality, reliable solutions and effects for designers. I’m just really looking forward to bringing my skillset to expand both the team and the brand throughout North and South America,” says Wise.
“While there are many quality products on the market with some innovative engineers, I believe it’s the service and support element that GLP provides to its customers that really sets the brand apart from the rest of the pack.

UK - DiGiCo has announced the appointment of James Baker as senior international sales manager, and long-standing DiGiCo team members Jaap Pronk and Tom Williams from their present roles to international sales managers.
Baker previously served as a business development manager and international sales manager. “I wanted a new challenge where I could leverage everything I’ve learned over the years,” he explains. “I’m looking forward to making a longstanding contribution to DiGiCo, bringing my flair for communication and relationship building to my new position and to being part of the amazing pool of talent the company already embodies.”
Pronk and Williams, meanwhile, are familiar DiGiCo faces and have been part of the DiGiCo family for many years. Both are well known for their expertise, reliability and excellent customer-facing skills.
Pronk’s association with the audio industry started when he was at high school as a touring engineer and DJ and continued at college, from where formally launched his career as a touring engineer and then in sales.
“My DiGiCo adventure started after a 13-year stint at their Dutch distributor, when DiGiCo gave me the opportunity to work for the brand itself and join the heart of the DiGiCo family as a Sales and Product Specialist,” he says. “After six years at the company, I’m proud and happy to now help the team with my sales skills.”
For more than a decade, Williams has developed an in-depth knowledge and passion for the DiGiCo brand, its products, and people. He is well known thro

USA - Renkus-Heinz has announced the appointment of test engineer Joel Enkhorn.
Enkhorn joins Renkus-Heinz with an extensive and impressive work history. Most recently, he worked for SpaceX in the Space Simulation Lab where he was a part of Avionics flight hardware and software testing. Enkhorn performed root cause analysis on failure modes and product defects utilizing Python scripting and hardware measurements.
Before his employment at SpaceX, Enkhorn gained experience acquiring, deploying and diagnosing issues with hardware and software across various platforms at Western Digital as a Cloud Server Quality Assurance Engineer. Here, Enkhorn worked to develop and troubleshoot automation scripts to assist with flashing product firmware.
“As a guitar nerd, I grew up with a love for music and the live audio atmosphere. It was an easy decision to be able to combine my passion and technical background into a position here at Renkus-Heinz,” Enkhorn said. “I’m thrilled to be a part of the dedicated and professional team here and look forward to working on their industry-leading products.”
In his position at Renkus-Heinz, Enkhorn will work closely with chief technology officer Ralph Heinz and engineering manager Chad DeFranco.
“Joel will make an excellent addition to our team. His experience speaks for itself, and we look forward to working with and learning from him,” Heinz noted. “Joel’s combined work history with his love for music make him the perfect candidate for this role, and we can’t wait to see what he does here.

Europe - Leyard Europe has announced the appointment of Markus Korn to the position of vice president of sales. Korn joins the Leyard Europe team from Samsung Electronics.
“After my very enjoyable and fulfilling decade at Samsung, it was time for a new challenge,” says Korn. “And what better place to take on my next challenge than at Leyard Europe. The company is constantly pushing the boundaries of display technology and breaking into new and exciting markets. I’m very much looking forward to joining the team.”
As VP Sales for Leyard Europe, Korn will lead all sales teams across the organisation, reporting directly to CEO Thorsten Lipp.
“We’re delighted to have Markus join us at Leyard Europe,” says Lipp. “His knowledge and connections will be a valuable asset to us as we continue to explore new opportunities and consolidate our position in the market.”

UK - Bradford-based Pro Audio Systems has announced the recruitment of Martin Bailey to the post of projects director. Martin has enjoyed an international career that has encompassed every aspect of project and production management, system design engineering and integration.
From apprentice scenic painter at Bristol Old Vic, to live and studio freelancer, Martin graduated in 3D Design (Theatre) from Wimbledon School of Art. Further stints as a sound engineer at Good Earth and Sound Design studios in London (and regular work as theatre technician in the West End) preceded a move into the live sound arena working for a diverse range of artists including Motörhead, Fela Kuti, Nick Cave and Squeeze.
Leaving the road to take up the Technical Manager’s position at Phoenix Arts Centre in Leicester, Martin enjoyed a seven-year tenure, with responsibility for an extensive and varied programme.
From 2005 to 2020 Martin worked for Theatre Projects, managing some of the most significant cultural building projects in the world.
Brian Lumb, managing director of PAS comments: “Martin’s career is nothing short of remarkable. He’s worked on an amazing range of projects and over a career spanning nearly four decades has accumulated a level of knowledge and experience that would be hard to match anywhere. It’s very clear that we’ll be able to deploy his skills across all areas of developing our business. Martin will be a huge asset to the Pro Audio Systems team as we continue to grow.”

Spain - Creative Technology (CT) has announced the appointment of Alvaro Cantos as the company’s systems integration manager for Spain. Cantos will report to CT Spain’s managing director, Oscar Ramal, and oversee the growth of the systems integration division in the Spanish market.
With over three decades of experience working with high-level corporations and public bodies in Spain and South America, delivering audio visual solutions to theatres, meeting rooms, auditoriums, conference rooms, museums and exhibitions, Cantos now brings his knowledge of the systems integration market to CT.
“Completing many notable audio-visual projects in Spain allowed me to lead and take part in some of the most important projects in South America,” explains Cantos. “I had the opportunity and privilege to work on both the AV and scenotechnic design of prominent venues such as the Teatro Biobío (Biobio Theatre), GAM Cultural Centre and Cervantes Theatre, Chile, just to name a few. Furthermore, I’ve also collaborated in other initiatives with multinational companies, including BBVA, Telefonica, Scotiabank, and PwC.”
After several years in South America, Cantos returned to his home country of Spain where he started looking for a company that would allow him to continue developing his skills.
As part of the official unveiling of the systems integration division, CT SI will be exhibiting at this year’s ISE tradeshow in Barcelona. Team members from CT SI’s extensive global network, including the newly appointed Cantos, will be on hand to welcome v

Europe - Clear-Com has announced the appointment of Richard Palmer to the role of sales director for the EMEA region, following the retirement of Nicki Fisher.
Richard’s prior experience includes over 10 years at Clear-Com, managing sales for Southern Europe and Africa, as well as several roles in sales for other leading industry manufacturers, including Audio-Technica and Solid State Logic. In his early career he spent time as a lecturer of music technology at various institutions, as well as serving as a recording engineer for CTS Studios.
Chris Willis, senior VP of worldwide sales, comments, “Richard’s deep understanding of the audio industry and his track record of growing even well-established channels made him a natural choice for this critical role, further strengthened by his strong interpersonal skills and wicked sense of humour.”
Richard’s appointment comes as Nicki Fisher announces her retirement from the commercial aspects of the industry, having served in the EMEA sales director role for Clear-Com since 2014. During her tenure with the company, she not only grew sales substantially in the EMEA region but also championed several key industry initiatives related to gender diversity and mentorship. After retirement, Nicki will continue in her role as chair of the board of Rise, an organisation devoted to promoting gender diversity within the media technology industry.

USA - Elation has announced the addition of Nick Saiki to the company’s U.S. sales team as product application and customer experience specialist – PACE. With an MFA in lighting design and technology from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Nick brings extensive knowledge and experience from his previous roles in live event production and system integration, as well as five years as a field project coordinator at ETC.
As PACE specialist, Nick will be responsible for leading product presentations at trade shows, showrooms, and sales team demos. He will also bridge the gap between sales and product management, ensuring that all customers and sales staff are fully trained on Elation products, up-to-date on industry trends, and familiar with the latest standards and technologies. Furthermore, Nick will expand on the Elation Educational Experience (E3) programme to include both internal and external trainings, and will formalise a continuing education certification program for customers within the E3 platform.
Additionally, Bob Mentele is transitioning from his role as Elation vertical market manager to join the company’s product development team as associate product manager for stage lighting. After three successful years at Elation, Bob will work closely with Matthias Hinrichs, product manager for Elation, to continue innovating and refining the Elation stage lighting product ranges with focus on static lighting fixtures.
Hinrichs comments, “Elation has seen tremendous success with our expanding theatre, TV, and event

Germany - Following the realignment of the company with a focus on the professional audio business, the Sennheiser Group is entering 2023 with a newly formed management team. The audio specialist’s new executive management board includes representatives from the three business units Pro Audio, Business Communication and Neumann, as well as Supply Chain, Corporate Functions and Development. Together with Co-CEOs Daniel and Andreas Sennheiser, the board members will implement the strategic goals of the Sennheiser Group.
As of 1 January 2023, the operational business of the Sennheiser Group will be managed by a team of six: Greg Beebe (executive vice president professional audio), Ron Holtdijk (executive vice president business communication), Ralf Oehl (CEO Georg Neumann GmbH), Steffen Heise (CFO), Dr. Andreas Fischer (COO) and Markus Redelstab (CTO). Peter Claussen and Thomas Weinzierl, who were previously COOs responsible for professional business and supply chain, will also remain on the EMB before their respective retirements in the course of the years 2023 and 2024. In the intervening period, they will gradually hand over their operational tasks and extensive knowledge to the new EMB.
In the future, Co-CEOs Dr. Andreas and Daniel Sennheiser will primarily focus on corporate management and strategy development and devote more time to customers, while the other EMB members will manage the operational business. Yasmine Riechers and Mareike Oer complete the leadership of the Sennheiser Group as an extended management team, representing the corporate deve

Canada - Robe Lighting has announced that John Bilyk, a well-known and colourful figure in the Canadian and American stage lighting communities, died on the evening of 11 December 2022. He was 70 years old. John passed away at home peacefully, after a nearly year-long battle with brain cancer, and he is survived by his wife, Tracey.
John had a storied career in stage lighting that spanned 40 plus years. However, one of John’s early formative work experiences was with a men’s clothing store in Winnipeg owned by Marc Raymond. Raymond later co-founded Westsun, which grew to be a major Canadian production and installation company. Soon after, John started his stage lighting career at Westsun in Winnipeg. John then relocated to Toronto, partnering with Brock McGinnis to establish the Canadian lighting distribution firm Novatec.
Novatec represented notable lighting manufacturers including High End Systems and Celco in the Canadian marketplace. He then joined Fourth Phase (later to become PRG) who had purchased Westsun, to establish one of the first used stage lighting sales outlets, 2nd Stage. John then joined Vari*Lite as the Canadian Sales Manager for several years, reconnecting with Bob Schacherl, whom John previously knew from High End Systems. Shortly after Schacherl joined Czech lighting manufacturer Robe lighting s.r.o., John rejoined his former colleague as Robe Canadian sales manager in 2016, where he worked until his passing.
Robert Mokry of LightParts Inc. said, “I met John when I was a sales rep at High End in the 90’s. I was assigned

USA - Bandit Lites has announced the hiring of Allen Deneau as its newest client representative.
Deneau brings decades of experience having previously owned a Chicagoland production company as well as years on the road as the lighting director for Grammy-award winning country music group, Diamond Rio. As a client representative for Bandit Lites, he’ll utilise his understanding of touring productions to provide his clients product and personnel solutions to ensure their creative endeavours are achieved.
“I’ve used Bandit gear on numerous occasions,” shared Deneau. “I was always impressed with the cleanliness, the quality and reliability of the gear I received from Bandit. Above the quality of the gear was the quality of the people Bandit sent. They were professional, dependable, ready to work and knowledgeable.”
“We are very happy to have Allen join the family,” said Bandit founder and chair Michael T. Strickland. “Beyond everything else is his amazing demeanour and personality. Couple that with a lifetime in the industry and a vast technical knowledge, as well as a large number of relationships, and you have a wonderful client rep.”

Europe/Singapore - Robe lighting starts 2023 with the announcement of two new roles boosting its international management team, both looking ahead and eyeing the company’s expansion over the next several years.
Bram De Clerck adds ‘key account manager Europe’ to his existing ‘business development manager’ detail, while Jens Poehlker takes on a new role as regional sales manager for Asia on top of his position as MD for Robe’s Singapore office.
This follows the announcement at the end of 2022 of Ingo Dombrowski as Robe’s new international sales director, while Harry von den Stemmen became key global account manager as well as taking on a more ambassadorial role in the company.
Like Ingo and Harry, both Bram and Jens have already been integral to the growth and success of the Robe operation for some years.
Bram’s new role as key account manager for Europe will include assisting and following up of the day-to-day business with distributors across Benelux, Italy, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria, and he will continue the co-ordinating and management of high-profile club projects in China.
As BDM, he will focus on specifications and working closely with lighting and visual designers, production managers and promotors to realise the creative goals of their projects. He will also remain in close contact with individuals and companies seeking to advance Robe’s global vision and horizons in harmonious and innovative ways.
Prior to joining the Robe international team full time in 2017, Bram worked for leading Benelux sal

Germany - ARRI has announced Dr. Raphael Kiesel as its new head of quality management. Based at the film technology company’s headquarters in Munich, he will ‘convert customer requirements into products and services in an even more structured manner’.
Dr. Matthias Erb, chairman of the executive board at ARRI, comments: “ARRI has stood for the highest quality in the film industry since 1917. These high-quality standards must be further advanced globally in all business and corporate areas. I wish Dr. Raphael Kiesel every success with this important task.”
Dr. Raphael Kiesel adds: “I am very much looking forward to this exciting position and am well aware of ARRI’s heritage and the responsibility that comes with it. Our goal is to further improve upon the quality of ARRI’s products and services and to offer customers the very best that is possible.”
Dr. Raphael Kiesel was most recently head of the Quality Intelligence department at the Machine Tool Laboratory (WZL) of RWTH Aachen University. During this time, he also completed an MBA at the Collège des Ingénieurs in cooperation with Siemens.

UAE - Aram, a specialist in entertainment design and complex technical production, has announced the appointment of Bartosz Jankowski as its new senior production manager in Dubai. Bartosz was previously associated with Visualsupport.
“From now on, Bartosz will be our permanent senior project manager responsible for the events and productions in the MENA region including Saudi Arabia. We believe that our knowledge and expertise in execution events like TV productions, trade fairs, esports, or festivals will be beneficial for clients in the Emirates and Saudi Arabia,” said Rafal Mrzyglocki, CEO of Aram.
Aram provides design and production services, together with the latest audio-visual solutions for live events, TV shows, festivals, esports, and conferences.

UK - David Morbey has been appointed to the position of product manager for Optimal Audio. Having worked with Denon, Martin Audio, InMusic, Allen & Heath and Neutrik, David has, at various stages, specialised in the area of installed sound for the leisure and hospitality sector - experience which aligns with his new role.
David Morbey comments: “I’ve maintained a close relationship with Dom Harter and James King since my Martin Audio days and very much admired the Optimal Audio launch in 2021. The disruptive marketing and clear messaging around the ecosystem isn’t let down by the product, which proved to be as simple and intuitive as it promised, so when the opportunity arose to get involved, I didn’t hesitate. It’s an exciting brand with clear objectives that’s just starting out on its journey, and as part of the Focusrite group, will have the space to grow in the right way.
“The Optimal Audio team is already an award-winning one and I’m hoping to enhance it with my experience across commercial AV, developing a route for greater customer feedback in shaping new product and feature design, as well as working with R & D and management to develop a strategy and identify priorities for the medium and long term.”
James King, marketing director for Optimal Audio and Martin Audio adds: “We’re very pleased to have secured David’s services. He is well known in the industry as a consummate professional and excellent communicator, whose knowledge of the industry is as broad as it is deep.”

UK - Brompton Technology has announced the appointment of Cesar Caceres, who will be joining the company’s cross-functional product development team as their product lead.
Having worked at Brompton between 2017 and 2019 as product specialist, followed by senior technical roles at disguise and Votion Studios [Hong Kong], Caceres is an expert when it comes to knowing how to use technology to create and deliver spectacular visual, virtual, and live experiences. In his new role as product lead, Caceres returns to Brompton to help lead the way with new and existing products, liaising with Brompton’s key customers across the globe and building deeper connections with them.
“For me, I have the best job in the company,” says Caceres. “I have always been passionate about delivering the best service and experience. The way Brompton designs and manufactures its products and supports the industry is very much attuned to my own vision of being able to offer quality solutions that directly correspond to customers’ needs.”

Europe - Michel Arntz has joined Robe’s international sales team as key account manager for Europe.
He will be co-ordinating Robe’s activities in 18 countries across Europe including Ukraine, and his area will also include all of Scandinavia, Poland, the Baltic states, Austria, Switzerland and most of the Balkan countries. Netherlands-based Michel is already a well-known and respected industry figure in Europe.
In addition to sales, the scope of his work will cover product communication and marketing, plus relationship building with the distributors and end users.
Michel commented that he is “super excited” to be joining Robe’s international sales manager Ingo Dombrowski and his team of regional sales managers, noting that their “drive, passion and enthusiasm for their work and the industry that we all love so much” was a major reason for him accepting the position.
Previously, Michel’s work experience included 13 years at sales and distribution company Fairlight, most latterly as general manager for sales.
Ingo adds, “Robe has spent many years building a strong, stable, and reliable distribution network with outstanding support for our brand. For us, it is so much more than just delivering goods. Michel shares this vision and commitment that has made Robe a market leader, and we are delighted to have him onboard and confident in his ability to grow future business and explore a diversity of opportunities.”
Michel joined Robe’s family on 1 January 2023, and his work immediately kicked off on the road, trav

UK - AV and system integrator specialist Lucinda Faucheux has launched LuFau Consulting, an independent consultancy that specialises in transforming tech businesses by helping them ‘achieve their goals of driving lean, efficient and reliable supply chains while optimising workflows and driving down costs’.
“My time spent in the AV industry illuminated a clear gap in the market,” explains Faucheux. “It’s a common theme that many system integrators do not employ someone who is specifically focused on supply chain management. It is difficult to find candidates with the relevant AV technical knowledge and, with the challenges of our current economy, justify hiring them permanently. I’m confident this is a void my consultancy services can fill.”
She adds: “Lately, many businesses have been restructuring or undergoing transformations, and with LuFau Consulting I want to offer a helping hand in these transitional periods. When it comes to optimising processes and forging a path forward, it’s not uncommon for companies to require some external expertise."
Having occupied key roles within Diversified, Vega and Netpractise, Faucheux has over 13 years’ experience in supply chain management and procurement.
“I’ve worked with some large players throughout my career. Incorporating many of the methodologies and processes learned with these corporations, I’ve developed my own unique holistic approach over time,” says Faucheux. “My clients will benefit from this multifaceted, analytical approach to solving problems, as well as

USA - Fulcrum Acoustic has welcomed Zuo ‘Rambo’ Zhao as the newest member of its engineering team. As acoustic engineer, Rambo works on developing new technologies and designing new products. He comments, “I’ve always wanted to work with Dave Gunness and know I will learn a lot from him. “However, what made my decision to come to Fulcrum is that they really invest in technology. I’ll have the opportunity to focus on the research part of R&D and look forward to contributing to the next generation of loudspeakers.”
“Rambo’s passion for loudspeakers and related technologies is immediately apparent. In his short time with us, he’s already become a valuable member of the team” says David Gunness, co-founder and VP of engineering. “We are excited to have him on board and know that he will make significant contributions.”
Rambo brings a decade of experience in the audio industry working as a live sound engineer, technical director for a touring company, and an audio engineer at Eastern Acoustic Works.

Singapore - KV2 has announced the appointment of Robert Tan to the post of director of sales, Asia. Based in Singapore, Tan brings over 20 years of experience as an AV consultant in the hospitality and events industries before moving into systems integration. Tan specialises in designing systems for acoustically challenging environments, be it in the live events or installed sound sector and is also a skilled business manager.
“It’s an honour to be representing KV2 in the APAC region,” says Tan. “I’ve long admired their technology and their approach to acoustics which, in my view, sets them apart from their competitors. I was introduced to the brand in 2010 and was immediately intrigued with the clarity of the ES1.0 cabinets. Since then, the product range has continued to develop with more options for a wide variety of applications.
“I have achieved some of the best results in my career using KV2 equipment although I’m often asked to defend my choice. However, in my experience, once the client has heard a demo, all his questions are answered! I’m delighted to become part of the KV2 family and take an active part in the next chapter of their development in Asia.
“While KV2 has a certain presence in the region, I’m confident that I can continue to elevate the brand to even bigger and better things,” he continues. “Opportunities don't just happen - you create them with hard work and passion - and that’s exactly what I intend to do for KV2 – create opportunities.”
KV2 Audio CEO, George Krampera Jr adds, “It’s been

Italy - Sadly, we report the death of pro audio consultant and journalist Mike Clark, who passed away on 30 December at the age of 77.
Mike, Scottish by birth, arrived in Italy at the end of the sixties as a sound engineer for a band. He fell in love with the country and decided to live there.
He always worked in the field of music, first as a DJ in the leading discos of the Riviera, and then as a music expert in one of the largest shops in Italy, Dimar in Rimini.
A specialised journalist and correspondent for entertainment industry magazines including LSi, he also collaborated with many pro-audio manufacturers, including Outline.
“During the last 30 years, Mike was the most precious resource for our r&d and marcomms departments,” Michele Noselli of Outline states. “A brilliant, generous and extremely reliable person, Mike translated intricate patent texts for us, doing it with surgical precision, elaborating the texts and making them essentially clear, hence effective, thanks to his ability to ask the right questions to refine the whole work… and he never got tired of calling you five, six times a day, only to deliver a flawless piece. And we always counted on him! We are sincerely and profoundly grateful for this. Ciao Mike, thank you for everything. Have a safe journey.”
“Mike has been contributing to LSi for many, many years and could always be relied upon to source brilliant international projects to share with our readers,” adds LSi editor, Claire Beeson. “He was a lovely man with a wealth of knowledge about the

UK - As Entourage Pro, the freelance crew network and technology insights company, celebrates having successfully placed hundreds of crew on tours and gigs across the globe this summer, co-directors Joel Perry and James Stanbridge have announced the appointment of Harvey Goldsmith CBE to the Entourage Pro board to further expand their standing in the industry and help communicate the site’s suite of services to the global sector.
Goldsmith is one of the best-known names in the industry. He has acted as promoter for Live Aid and Live 8, The Rolling Stones, The Who, The Jam, Teenage Cancer Trust, Madonna, Queen, Hans Zimmer and countless other international artists, and has recently launching the Nvisible Agency. He will assume the role of non-exec director at Entourage Pro with immediate effect.
“I’m excited to join this young, pioneering company,” he says. “EP has succeeded in bringing six major components of the live entertainment sector together in one accessible eco-system. Having recognised that the industry has long needed digitising, they have managed not only to create something entirely new, but something that is simple to use and benefits all stakeholders in the process.”
Perry adds, ‘We’re thrilled to have Harvey join us. He’s a true industry visionary whose wealth of knowledge has already proved indefatigable. Harvey knows that in order to implement change, you have to convince people that change is necessary. He knows better than anyone how to communicate that message and we’re already seeing the results.”
Sta

France - Following the recent announcement of a new global sales and business development organisation, L-Acoustics has introduced the new business development team.
Under the general management of L-Acoustics CEO Laurent Vaissié, the new team is spread across three divisions: Sales and Sales Operations focusing on developing regional sales channels; Business Development concentrating on developing commercial expertise and end-user outreach in key vertical markets; and Strategy leadership developing mid- to long-term go-to-markets strategies and key partnerships as well as managing resource planning and market intelligence.
The team will focus on setting strategies and roadmaps in five key vertical markets. L-Acoustics veteran William Cornell takes the role of director, musicals & theatre, while Scott Wakelin has been promoted to director, hospitality. Paul Keating will assume a double role as managing director L-Acoustics Creations EMEA and director of the architectural vertical. In this new role, Keating will manage distribution, logistics, and application support for residential, marine, and architectural markets in all direct markets worldwide outside the Americas while building relationships with clients, decision-makers, and private owners in this strategic vertical market.
To round out the team, L-Acoustics has appointed two new key roles. Olivier Roure joins the company as business development director, sports facilities. Roure will bring a global approach to the sports facilities vertical, expanding its share within the market. Roure

Germany - Peter Lawo, founder of the company for broadcast and media technologies named after him, passed away on 24 November 2022, at the age of 85. The committed engineer and entrepreneur founded today’s Lawo AG in 1970 and laid the foundation for the company’s worldwide reputation and economic success with innovative audio products and uncompromising quality standards.
In the 1970s, Peter Lawo developed an electronic sound processor for the music of contemporary composer Karl-Heinz Stockhausen, which strongly influenced the compositions of ‘New Music’. His contacts with musicians led to first projects with regional public broadcaster Suedwestfunk (SWF) and installations at the station’s so-called Experimental Studio. This was followed by developing the first audio mixing system for SWF, which was used for music mixes with artists such as Pierre Boulez, Luigi Nono, Brian Ferneyhough, Christobal Halffter and Dieter Schnebel.
Based on this success, Lawo established contacts with system integrators in the industry and broadcasters. His maxim from the beginning was, “Listen to your customers and users, find out what they really need, and find solutions that go beyond those needs.” Right from the start, his first mixing consoles for broadcasting, which were still analogue at the time, were characterized by uncompromising build and sound quality and were unbeatable in their user-oriented operability, functionality and design.
In the early 1980s, Lawo used computer technology in its mixing consoles and built the Programmable Audio Control (