USA - Industry veteran Laura Hoepker has joined PLASA as an events sales executive working with the North American team on the PLASA Focus NA regional events.

Hoepker joins PLASA from Electronic Theatre Controls after 19 years where she oversaw ETC's trade shows and events.

PLASA CEO Matthew Griffiths comments: "Laura is a respected and highly regarded industry peer and we are so pleased to welcome her to help us grow our regional events in North America."

PLASA director of media, sales, and marketing Jackie Tien added: "We look forward to our long-time and respecte

USA - To strengthen support for the global AV installation network, Meyer Sound has appointed Marc Goossens to the newly created position of business development manager, installation markets.

Goossens will serve as a key point of contact supporting principal players in the global installation market. Goossens will identify growth opportunities and coordinate company efforts to ensure that consultants are equipped with the necessary tools for all stages of their Meyer Sound projects, from initial systems concept through to final commissioning and user training. Working as part of the

UK - Northern Light has announced the appointment of Ian Green as a business development manager for the company's equipment sales division, Northern Light Direct.

Green has been working within the entertainment technology industry since 1997 and brings with him a wealth of experience in sound, lighting, AV and stage technologies. His technical career commenced at Alton Towers theme park, where he worked as a permanent technician within the entertainments team, before moving into a more theatrical role with Birmingham Hippodrome as an LX and sound technician. Thereafter, he worked at

USA / Middle East - Clear-Com has announced that Samer E. Mouwanes will join the company on 13 May, 2013 as regional sales manager, Middle East. Mouwanes is a dedicated sales professional with extensive experience in the broadcast, pro audio and installation markets. In his new role, Mouwanes will establish and head Clear-Com's new Middle East office. He will be responsible for overseeing all sales and customer service activities in the Middle East, Turkey, Greece and Cyprus.

Mouwanes will work directly with Karlie Miles, Clear-Com's director of sales, EMEA and South Asia Pacific, to

EMEA - Midas Klark Teknik has announced the appointment of Rob Hughes as technical support manager for the EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) region.

This new position has been created to further improve the quality of technical support for all MKT products in the region. Hughes will be working with both end users and MKT regional partners, and employing his considerable experience and expertise on the deployment, configuration and operation of all Midas and Klark Teknik products.

Hughes comments, "Midas Klark Teknik is an exciting place to be right now, with considerable on

UK / EMEA - Martin Professional has announced that industry professional Matt Hallard has joined the Martin EMEA sales organisation as Business Area Manager, Rental. Hallard brings with him a wealth of industry experience having worked as production manager for P&O Cruises Worldwide, as regional sales manager at PRG Distribution and most recently for Philips Vari-Lite as European sales manager.

Hallard's primary duties in the Martin EMEA organisation will focus on developing Martin's Global Alliance Program, as well as handling a number of key accounts. Furthermore, Martin plans to ut

USA - Bandit Lites has announced the promotion of Jake Tickle to director of technical services. He will oversee all technical aspects of Bandit including support for road staff, research and development, training and repairs.

"Jake's tireless efforts to ensure that our technical department reflects the high standards our clients have come to expect has made Jake an integral part of Bandit for some time," said Pete Heffernan, Bandits' president. "We are proud to have him in such a position where he will continue to guarantee Bandits' success for years to come."

T

UK - The Panalux Broadcast & Event team provide specialist, creative solutions to the television, film, live event and concert touring industries. Home to an extensive selection of modern lighting, rigging and control equipment, Panalux B&E has grown steadily over the past few years to become a firmly established, well respected production resource.

With a reputation built not just on service and equipment but on relationships and a willingness to assist throughout every stage of the production cycle, the B&E team remains committed to facilitating the smooth transition of client ideas

USA/UK - Orbital Sound reports that it has appointed entertainment industry professional Morag MacPherson as vice president of its US company with immediate effect. MacPherson joins Orbital at an important stage in its evolution, and will be working closely with international managing director Chris Headlam to position the company's successful brand in the US market.

Chris Headlam comments, "Morag brings a new dimension to Orbital as a recognised force in the theatrical world. Morag is extremely well-versed in all things audio, as well as commanding immense respect within theatre

UK - The ABTT took the opportunity the recent PLASA Focus Show to pay tribute to Ivor Dykes, in recognition of his longstanding contribution to ABTT NorthNet, upon his retirement as the committee's Honorary Secretary.

Ivor's initial career began as an apprentice organ builder in Leeds. In the late 1950s he worked at London's Selfridges store as a television repairman whilst volunteering at the Questors Theatre in Ealing and the Theatre Royal Stratford East.

This lead to a formal role with Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop Company as its theatre engineer, working alongside Gerry Raf

UK - LEE Filters has announced the appointment of Richard McKitty as their new business development manager for camera and lighting filters. McKitty comes to LEE with six years of experience in the lighting industry and four years in the photographic industry working with dealers and professionals in each market. He will be covering all areas outside the US and South America with a focus on Europe and beyond.

"I am thrilled to be joining LEE Filters. It is a real honour to be promoting the famous LEE brand within two thriving industries around the world. I cannot wait to help exp

USA - Chuck Davies, founder and CEO of the ADJ Group has announced that Toby Velazquez has been named president of ADJ, Elation and Acclaim Lighting. Velazquez, who joined the company shortly after it was started in 1985, has served the ADJ Group in a wide variety of capacities and has made critical contributions to its growth from a small business serving the mobile DJ market to an international leader in the lighting industry.

"Toby has been a key part of our company from its earliest days," said Davies. "He's demonstrated extraordinary talent and leadership qualities

UK - AMX has announced the appointment of Jeff Gorton as UK business development manager for the corporate sector.

"It is with great pleasure that we can announce that Jeff has joined the AMX team." said Jonathan Mangnall, sales director, AMX Europe. "Our corporate business has been going from strength to strength and we have been looking for some time for the right candidate to build on this momentum. Jeff's vast experience across the corporate installation industry will be invaluable."

Gorton joins the AMX team with over 15 years experience within the industry,

China - Lighthouse Technologies has announced the promotion of Randy Green to the position of chief technology officer.

Green has more than 25 years experience in strategic planning, sales, design and implementation of technical systems for the entertainment, television, sports, digital out of home and live event markets. He also has over 15 years of experience providing technical solutions for sports stadiums, arenas, and exhibition centres of which large screen video display, video control systems and electronic signage are an integral part.

Having joined Lighthouse in 2007, Green

UK - Sound Technology, the Harman distributor in the UK and ROI, has promoted Joe East to the new role of business development manager - installed audio. East has been at Sound Technology Ltd since the company purchased Harman Pro UK in 2008, and was at Harman Pro UK for two years prior to that. His new role is to act as liaison between all relevant parties of a project to ensure it runs smoothly.

In addition, Hugo Burnard has joined the technical project team, working as project engineer alongside senior project engineer Ben Todd and product specialist Danny Kyte. Burnard is an exper

UK - Audio-Technica has announced the recruitment of Matthias Exner to the position of business development director EMEA for professional products.

With a strong technical and commercial background, Exner has spent many years in the pro-audio industry representing leading brands like Biamp, Tannoy and BSS, in various roles working with distributors across EMEA and SAARC regions. Exner brings significant experience of the commercial installation industry to Audio-Technica

Exner said, "I'm very excited to be joining Audio-Technica - it's a fantastic company with great technology

UK - Allen & Heath's regional sales agency for Asia, Global Market Management, has appointed Alex Schloesser to the position of sales engineer. He will be working with distributors in training, pre-sales system design support as well as after sales support with an emphasis on helping distribution partners increase market share.

With 25 years of experience in broadcast audio, FOH mixing, systems engineering, speaker system tuning, R&D, RF, speaker measurement and many other related pro audio functions Schloesser makes a significant addition to the Global Market team.

"I was deli

USA - Auralex Acoustics has announced several recent additions to its leadership team. The announcement was made by Auralex founder and president Eric Smith.

First, Mark Henderson has been appointed CEO. Prior to joining Auralex Acoustics, Henderson had a successful global career with Dow AgroSciences, and also functioned as Executive Director of the Indiana Soybean Alliance and Indiana Corn Marketing Council, travelling abroad to grow both organizations' market share. Along the way, Henderson acquired experience with Six Sigma and other process and organizational re-engineering job a

Denmark - DPA Microphones has appointed Niels J°rgen °hrgaard as its new executive VP for sales.

°hrgaard joins DPA Microphones from Reson where he was executive VP global sales and marketing. He has also held similar positions at other high tech companies including Hasselblad A/S and ScanView A/S - Purup Eskofot A/S.

Christian Poulsen, CEO of DPA Microphones, says, "Niels J°rgen has spent the last 20 years developing and growing sales globally for a range of companies and we are delighted that DPA will now benefit from this extensive experience. His appointment

USA - Martin Professional, Inc. is pleased has announced that on 3 June industry expert and long-time industry professional Grif Palmer will join the company as business area manager, rental - US.

Palmer brings to Martin a wealth of knowledge and industry experience, having worked as VP of Sales for High End Systems, regional sales manager for Barco and most recently as VP of sales for LED Source. His roots in the industry stretch back to 1985 when he founded Core Systems, and he has amassed an abundance of key contacts since.

Brian Friborg, president of Martin US, commented,"G

USA - Global Truss America has named Kenneth Kahn president of the company, which sells products in North America under the DuraTruss and Global Truss brands. Kahn has been with the company since its inception in 2000 and has played a key role in building it into a major supplier of trussing and accessories for the stage, concert, club, house of worship, exhibit and retail display markets.

"Ken has been involved in every aspect of this business, from sales and marketing to research and product development," said Global Truss America CEO Chuck Davies. "He's excelled at e

USA - Liberty AV Solutions has named Nick Buscemi as its new Great Lakes strategic accounts manager. Now giving direction to Central US territories including Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio, Buscemi's reach will extend to Kentucky as well.

"This opportunity at Liberty comes at the right time, and I definitely feel in the right place," Buscemi says of his new role. "Being part of a sales team built upon principles of maintaining a positive customer culture and growth through building better business relationships offers end-to-end solutions within which everyone co

UK - Following the recent announcement that POLARaudio will be the UK distributor for Loud Technologies' brands Mackie and Ampeg, they have announced the appointment of John Kaukis as their business development manager. Formerly the UK sales manager for Loud Technologies, Kaukis brings with him a formidable knowledge of these brands and the pro-audio/MI industries, plus a wealth of sales experience.

Kaukis will continue to grow the Mackie and Ampeg brands as well as working on the Beyerdynamic and Gallien Krueger brands with POLARaudio national sales manager (retail division), Clive B

USA - San Francisco Business Times has named Helen Meyer, co-founder and executive vice-president of Meyer Sound, to be one of this year's Most Influential Women in Bay Area Business. An annual special edition of the respected business journal honours women leaders who have risen to the highest positions in corporations, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies. The honorees' achievements will be celebrated on June 6, 2013 at the Most Influential Women in Business Awards Ceremony at the Hilton San Francisco.

Since co-founding Meyer Sound in 1979 with her husband John Me

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