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29 May 2024

UK - The Production Services Association (PSA) has announced the election of Liz Madden and Tom Rees as co-chairs of the council. Both Liz and Tom have been active council members of the PSA for a long time and bring a wealth of knowledge to the role. Their joint goal is to increase direct support for members and further evolve industry representation, education and awareness of the business of technical production across the live events industry ecosystem.

Liz Madden commented: “We are looking forward to working with both council members and members to continue the growth and development of the PSA. The live industry faces ongoing challenges, and we will continue to provide support to members and the industry as a whole. Skills shortage is currently a key issue for the industry, and we are working on a training and education programme to address this.”<

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29 May 2024

Germany - Q-SYS, a division of QSC, EMEA has announced the appointment of Chant Utukian as managing director, MEA.

Utukian joined the company in 2021 and has played a pivotal role in establishing the brand in the UAE and building a robust regional team.

“Chant’s strategic approach to managing distribution and business development has significantly increased sales revenue and expanded our market share in MEA,” says Markus Winkler, executive vice president, EMEA & APAC. “I look forward to seeing the region continuing to grow under Chant’s leadership.”

“This is an exciting time for Q-SYS as we transition to a hybrid business model in the GCC,” says Utukian. “I look forward to solidifying the Q-SYS brand in the region and further developing our team."

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29 May 2024

Denmark - Aarhus-based LED lighting manufacturer DVT Light has appointed Theis Wermuth as its new commercial director. Well-known as an international lighting and show designer via his design studio Create This, Wermuth also has a background working with leading professional lighting manufacturers.

DVT Light was founded in 2021 by Mikkel Bandholm and Peter Johansen who has been inventing products for entertainment since the 1970s.

As commercial director, Theis will be focussing on sales, marketing, and building a distribution network to assist in helping to establish the brand globally. Theis will also energise an extensive network of contacts of lighting professionals.

He states, “I am thrilled to join DVT Light. It is a fantastic opportunity to work with such an innovative and dynamic team. I look forward to contributing to the company's

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28 May 2024

UK - The Fly By Nite team and the wider industry has been paying tribute to the company’s founder and managing director David Coumbe who passed away, aged 68, on 17 May after a short illness.

“David’s passing has come as a huge shock to the Fly By Nite team and the wider live events and touring community. We would like to thank all those who have reached out over the last few days to offer their condolences at this sad time, the outpouring of love and support we have received from across the industry has helped us through this difficult period,” says the company. “David was a much-loved colleague and highly respected leader, whose vision helped to build the foundations of the company’s long-term success.”

Since its foundation in 1989, Coumbe had grown Fly By Nite into one of the world’s largest music production and logistics businesse

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28 May 2024

USA - Robe has announced the passing of Craig Burross, chief sales officer at Robe Lighting Inc. A statement posted on the company’s social media channels reads: “It is with complete devastation and with very heavy hearts that we announce the passing of beloved industry veteran Craig Burross.

“From his early career at High End Systems, to his work with Vari-Lite, Craig most recently served as the Chief Sales Officer for Robe Lighting, Inc. where his passion for the entertainment production industry made him one of the most recognized and respected members of our industry.

“Away from the office, Craig was a husband, father, and grandfather to a family whom he loved dearly. His wife Kat was often by his side at industry events, and his son Chase is also a member of the Robe North America team.

“When speaking about Craig, one can hones

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28 May 2024

UK - LSI Projects has announced the passing of its business development manager, Richard Bunting. A statement from the company reads: “It is with deep sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Richard Bunting, our esteemed business development manager. Richard's unexpected departure has left us all in shock and mourning, and he will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of working with him.”

Richard joined LSI Projects in 2005, bringing a wealth of industry experience and a passion for the industry in which he had been involved in for more than 30 years.

The statement continues: “Richard was a respected colleague and an inspiration to many. His ability to build strong relationships, both within the team and with our clients, supply chain and the consultant community, was unparalleled, helping LSI solidify its reputation as a truste

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22 May 2024

China - UK-based Linea Research has strengthened its global presence with a series of key, strategic distribution appointments.

As Prolight + Sound Guangzhou prepares to open its doors, Linea Research has announced Guangzhou Guidance as its distributor for China. Guangzhou Guidance will manage the Linea Research product ranges across mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau.

The team at Guangzhou Guidance, headed by Rico Xu, will take responsibility for the full spectrum of Linea Research products in the region, from the M Series amplifiers for touring to the C Series for installation, through the XiB4 range of four-channel DSP amplifiers to Linea’s Advanced System Controller, the ASC48.

Guangzhou Guidance’s Rico Xu, said, “We are very pleased to begin the sales and technical service partnership with Linea Research with exhibition of the pro

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22 May 2024

USA - Renkus-Heinz has announced two new team members. Joe Kaveney assumes the role of industrial engineering manager and Andrew Gizara joins as electrical engineer. 

Kaveney’s career spans from earning a US patent in the solar industry to implementing approved processes in the aerospace sector. Alongside his professional accomplishments, Kaveney's lifelong passion for music includes playing instruments, producing live events, and building interactive art installations. 

“I feel extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to leverage my passion for music and sound with my professional experience in process design and efficiency,” says Kaveney. “It is my pleasure to assist with the industrialization of our business by establishing a robust fabrication process with an optimized supply chain – ultimately resulting in a truly lossless pro-aud

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17 May 2024

UK - A celebration of the remarkable life of Richard Pilbrow - lighting designer, theatre consultant, producer, author, educator, mentor, friend, and so much more – is being held today (17 May) at the Dorfman - formerly Cottesloe - at the National Theatre.

The Pilbrow family, along with the ALPD and the ABTT invite those who knew Richard to join them at the venue from 1.30pm. “All are welcome,” a statement says. Like the great producer Richard sometimes was, we want a sold-out event, maybe even bursting a little at the seams - but not to end up with people unable to get in.”

Anyone who can’t make it but would still like to commemorate Richard is asked to do so by supporting the entertainment charities Backup Tech (in the UK) or Behind The Scenes (in the US).

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17 May 2024

USA - Bandit Lites has announced that Kelly Feild has joined the team as the director of touring personnel.

In addition, Feild will also head expanding Bandit’s college outreach as well as interviewing and hiring additional touring personnel of all experience levels and backgrounds.

Feild’s background in live events began early, in high school. She then earned a BBA in Music Business from Belmont University. Following graduation, she worked at Belmont’s event services as their Coordinator of Scheduling before joining Bandit Lites as a lighting technician. She worked on multiple tours and eventually set out as a freelancer.

“I started at Bandit with a business degree and almost no technical experience,” Feild says. “Bandit taught me everything I needed to know to successfully tour as lighting tech. I know how to do the office part

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14 May 2024

UK - The ABTT has announced that Liz Sillett will be its new chief executive officer, starting in the role later this month.

Liz joins the ABTT having been at The Old Vic where she was director of operations and external relationships since 2017, having worked in the arts in the UK for over 25 years. This has included senior leadership roles at Orion Management working in and supporting multiple venues across the UK, several senior roles at The Old Vic and various consultancy projects.

Liz’s experience spans traditional theatres, unconventional venues including immersive experiences, temporary spaces and pop-ups as well as events and hospitality.

Liz brings to the role a thorough understanding of venue operations (both front of house and backstage) as well as extensive experience of capital projects. Liz has been a member of the ABTT for ma

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09 May 2024

UK - Stage Electrics has announced the appointment of Mark Holdway to the newly created position of head of visual display systems projects. With over three decades of experience in delivering video display solutions, Mark brings considerable expertise to his new role. He has previously worked on projects for corporate clients such as the London Stock Exchange Group and broadcasters such as the BBC, Sky and ITV.

Dan Aldridge, commercial director & head of projects at Stage Electrics, comments, "Bringing Mark into this crucial role underscores our commitment to expanding the range of high-quality products and services we offer to both existing and new customers. Mark’s extensive experience and proven track record in the industry make him an invaluable addition to our team."

"Video display equipment is so often interconnected in its application w

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03 May 2024

UK – beyerdynamic has appointed Duncan Booth as sales manager, UK and Ireland for its consumer audio division. Booth has wide-ranging experience across retail, distribution and manufacturing within the technology and consumer electronics sector, having worked for Sennheiser, Griffin Technologies, Brightstar and Strax.

A major part of his new role will be to work closely with Polar, beyerdynamic’s exclusive distributor for the UK and Ireland, to develop the market for the brand’s new range of retail and consumer electronics.

“I’m excited to be starting this new chapter in my career,” says Booth. “It’s always fantastic to be involved with bringing new products to market, especially those from such a well-established and highly-respected company as beyerdynamic. I’m very much looking forward to working very closely with the Polar team,

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01 May 2024

USA - AtlasIED has announced the appointment of Michael Bridwell as vice president of commercial audio sales.

Bridwell will report to Michael Peveler, vice president of sales, and will support the growth of AtlasIED’s performance audio segment, featuring the Atmosphere platform, Aimline Series, IsoFlare Series, AS Series, and all commercial audio products.

“I’ve known Michael for quite some time, and I couldn’t be more confident in this addition to our team,” said Peveler. “His commitment to professional development, team building, and cultural enhancement aligns seamlessly with AtlasIED’s values and will no doubt advance our mission of delivering the best possible experience to our customers.”

An industry veteran with 16 years of experience, Bridwell has previously worked exclusively on the manufacturing side of the industry

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30 April 2024

USA - Bandit Lites has appointed Matt Day as its new human resource director. Day earned his degree in Business Administration from UVA-Wise. He joins Bandit Lites with nearly two decades of expertise in human resources.

“Working in human resources is more than just a job; it’s about being part of something bigger than yourself,” said Day. “Every day presents new challenges and opportunities to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. One of the most fulfilling aspects of this role is assisting others to resolve issues that they cannot fix themselves. In HR, each interaction is an opportunity to foster a positive work environment and empower individuals to thrive professionally and personally.”

“I personally oversaw the process as the HR position is so vitally important to Bandit, as it is every firm,” said Bandit Lites chai

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22 April 2024

USA - Altman Lighting has announced the appointment of Ethan Aberg as the new regional manager for the western region of the United States.

Ethan Aberg brings over 20 years of experience in the lighting fixtures and controls industry with a proven track record at Martin Professional where he contributed to the development and execution of the annual sales strategy and objectives for the Martin by Harman Professional lighting division for the installation market. As the North American brand ambassador he contributed to supporting relationships with regional sales teams, representatives, product development teams, marketing teams, key distributors and dealers.

Other notable accomplishments and positions include his work at Illuminarc where he developed and maintained new channels of distribution for business-to-business sales of architectural lighting

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19 April 2024

Spain - The growing Avolites team has welcomed aboard Gonzalo Herranz Gutierrez as a senior product specialist, who will be based in Madrid, and will be providing comprehensive support related services to Avolites customers and distributors focusing on Europe and Latin America including training new users and their own sales and support staff.

Avolites MD Paul Wong stated, “We’ve worked with Gonzalo for many years and are absolutely thrilled he’s joining the Avolites global team.

“He brings long lasting relationships, a strong knowledge of the market, and an in-depth knowledge of both Avolites lighting and media products, all of which will be key to helping us continue to grow our international footprint with a specific focus on Europe and South America.”

Gonzalo commented, “I Love the Avolites brand. The team is amazing and the t

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12 April 2024

USA - EAW has appointed Raymond Tee as APAC technical sales manager. In this role, Tee will be the primary pre- and post-sales technical support contact for EAW’s APAC partners. He will also assist James Bamlett, the senior director of EMEA and APAC sales, with identifying, training and managing new partners to strengthen EAW’s network throughout the region. 

“I first worked with Raymond over 20 years ago when he was handling EAW for our Malaysian distributor,” says Bamlett. “With his vast experience in the field, I’m very glad that we are finally able to close the circle and get him back to EAW.”  

Tee has held sales, technical and engineering positions at several international manufacturers, was the operations manager at a large rental company and most recently served as Powersoft’s solutions engineer for APAC.

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12 April 2024

Europe - Owing to the continued growth of the business, and the imminent move to the new HQ in Colne, Bradley Jeffrey has recently been appointed as group operations director at Prolight Concepts.

In this new role, Bradley will help bolster the business logistically and strategically. Bradley has been in the business for over 10 years, and has worked in all areas, which has provided him with the knowledge and understanding to streamline and grow the business with other directors, managers and workforce.

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11 April 2024

UK - TV, broadcast and event lighting rental specialists, Version 2 Lights has announced the promotion of Joe Marter to general manager.

Marter joined V2 four years ago this week as a project manager, and has since worked on a number of high-profile productions, most notably the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II.

"Interestingly it was also this week, 10 years ago that Joe joined Aurora as a technician," the company says. "The progression is a testament to Joe's hard work, dedication, broad skill set and attention to detail which has seen him come through the ranks. Joe’s new role at V2 will see him assume full day to day internal responsibilities at our Childs Court Farm Campus. Joe will continue to project manage a small number of long-term clients, with Simon Perrott taking on a senior role within the rental team."

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10 April 2024

UK - Brompton Technology has appointed Sebastian Kanabar as technical sales consultant, focussing on the broadcast and film industries.

Based at the company’s headquarters in Chiswick, Kanabar brings over two decades of experience in senior technical, sales and product management roles at Prokit Europe, Holdan (part of the Midwich Group), NM Productions, and Pixel Engine.

He has had the opportunity to work with many well-known companies including Panavision, Sky, NBC Universal and CNN, as well as leading lighting and camera manufacturers like ARRI. Most recently, he was technical director at a UK-based VFX company, handling projects for high end technology and automotive brands. 

“Working in a variety of roles has given me an understanding of the entire production cycle,” he explains. “I wanted to delve deeper into product management

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08 April 2024

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04 April 2024

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04 April 2024