Europe - Clear-Com has announced the appointment of Andreas Schick to the applications engineering team in EMEA. Andreas holds the title of applications egineer II and brings 10+ years of professional experience in the AV industry to his role at Clear-Com.
Andreas previously worked as a commissioning engineer at Salzbrenner, a Germany-based systems contractor for AV and media technology. His role allowed him the opportunity to work at a number of venues around the world, including music and production theaters, state parliaments, and even the Sydney Opera House. Notably, he helped implement a new stage management and audio system in the Bolshoi Academic State Theatre in Moscow, as well as the stage management system for the State Opera of Berlin, which included a Clear-Com system.
“We are so pleased to have Andreas on board,” said Ernie Addow, senior global applications engineering manager. “His experience, as well as his prior familiarity with Clear-Com equipment and other intercom systems, make him a great asset. He is a skilled engineer and excellent problem solver, and we are confident in his ability to support our growing user base. Andreas will be based in Germany and will cover the DACH region, as well as Europe at large.”

UK - Martin Audio has announced the appointment of former lecturer, producer, DJ and freelance sound engineer, Paul Connaughton to the role of product support engineer.
He will be supporting clients and customers in the use of Martin Audio systems and software in all areas of live sound and system integration design and deployment. “My focus will be on improving both the access, resources and delivery to systems and software training for clients and end users,” he stated. Connaughton will work to a similar brief as his predecessor Simon Purse, but with a heavier concentration on organising training schedules and resources.
“Having worked as a freelance engineer in live sound throughout my teaching career I have always found myself attracted to the lovely warm sound of Martin Audio systems,” he enthuses. “And having been introduced to MLA - and used it to some extent - I am hugely impressed at the way in which the various systems have such a consistent sound across the entire range.”
Based in Plymouth, he had been further imbued into Martin Audio’s culture by fellow Plymouth resident (and MLA ambassador), Simon Honywill. “Having completed the university course delivered by Simon and Jim Parsons, as I was starting out in the freelance world, I was asked to move into lecturing where I helped to support their live sound and music technology courses based in Plymouth.
“I will be travelling around the country on a roadshow tour this winter to begin and introduce our university training programme to technical universities UK-wide wh

UAE - Mike Walker has joined Creative Technology Middle East as sales director.
Walker’s career in the entertainment technology industry began with Creative Technology London joining as the company’s first business development manager and moving on to running the presentation and 3D graphics facility in Soho and then leading the combined Screenco and CT sales team as sales director.
After 14 years with CT, Walker spent two years as a freelance video consultant for major UK productions including the SKY TV HD launch and the historic Led Zeppelin concert at London’s 02 Arena.in 2010 Mike joined Martin Professional Lighting heading up their UK operation and moved on to a senior role with Harman Professional after they acquired the business.
“Joining the CT team in Dubai at such an exciting time in the company’s development is hugely exciting and it’s also a coming home to the company where my career first began,” says Walker. “I have maintained contact over the years and watched CT grow whilst maintaining its reputation and position as the leading global provider of AV services for live events and integrated system installations it’s great to be back.”

Germany - The Adam Hall Group has appointed Nik Gledic to a newly created global management position. Since 1 September 2022, Gledic has been responsible as global sales director for the strategic orientation and implementation of the worldwide sales division of the event technology company based in Neu-Anspach.
Before joining the Adam Hall Group, Gledic gained many years of experience at Shure Germany and Shure Europe in management positions in sales and marketing and, most recently, as senior director retail for the Western European business of the US pro audio manufacturer.
“The development of the Adam Hall Group as an international key player in the field of event technology has impressed me for many years,” explains Nik Gledic. “For this reason, I am all the more pleased to follow this path and to shape it even more successfully in the future. At Adam Hall, I encounter an extremely human, modern and open corporate culture with a highly motivated team that is eager to continue driving growth and success with passion. This ultimately convinced me that the newly created position of global sales director at Adam Hall is the right challenge for me.”
Markus Jahnel, COO Adam Hall Group, says: “Nik is an extremely experienced sales professional with whom we can implement our strategic vision for the global sales area even more comprehensively in practice. We have ambitious goals and want to make the Adam Hall brand – as well as our individual Cameo, LD Systems, Palmer and Gravity brands – synonymous worldwide with innovative event techn

Europe - Eloise Reed has joined SGM Light as specification manager for Northern Europe. Reed has over 25 years of experience in lighting, spanning several global markets in both the architectural and production lighting sectors.
Reed will establish and build customer relationships and support business development within Northern Europe, providing a go-to point of contact for architectural lighting designers. By establishing Reed’s role, SGM is expanding its global team focused on the development of solutions and resources for the Architectural market, ensuring that consultants and integrators have the tools and support needed for successful design and implementation of architectural installations.
Eloise adds: I'm thrilled to be joining SGM at this time of renewed optimism in the global market and unparalleled growth. SGM enables specifiers to create outstanding exterior lighting and integrated pixel concepts through exceptional, sustainable product design, matched with unwavering support. Exciting times are ahead and I'm looking forward to championing SGM at the forefront of the specifier community.”
Eloise will remain based in the UK, working within the SGM Light global sales team.

USA - To meet expected expansion, Bandit Lites has announced the hiring of industry veteran Paul Strom to the sales and integration team.
Strom joins Bandit’s Charlotte office as system integrator and will primarily focus on rigging and soft goods, allowing even more rapid growth in this area.
“We’ve had countless professional interactions with Paul over the years, so this was a natural fit for our team,” said Chris Barbee - vice president of sales & integration. “His comprehensive knowledge of rigging and drapery is going to be both an asset for us and our clients.”
Strom has more than three decades of experience in the industry, spanning both lighting and carpentry with a strong emphasis on permanent rigging. “I have worked with the entire Charlotte staff in the past and am excited to join them on new projects,” said Strom. “I am thrilled to be on this side of the table with Bandit.”

Europe - Lightware Visual Engineering has announced Roger Takacs as vice president of education. Takacs will play an instrumental role in developing and growing business in the education sector.
Takacs has more than 20 years’ experience in sales and executing strategic initiatives across several key verticals, including education. He has worked with many manufacturers, including Crestron, Atlona and Custom Display Solutions, and integration companies, such as CompView, MCSi and The Intellisys Group.
“We continue to expand our team with many of the industry’s most widely respected professionals,” said Jason Tirado, president of Lightware Visual Engineering. “We are focused on building relationships with customers, consultants and integrators and demonstrating our confidence in Lightware’s innovative solutions. We are thrilled to welcome Roger to our team as we invest in the education channel.”

Europe - Lightware Visual Engineering has appointed Siegfried Hermann as vice president of business development in the EMEA region. Siegfried’s responsibilities will embrace the further expansion of Lightware into EMEA, the development of new partnerships with global corporations, and strategic planning of Lightware’s presence in the region, says the company.
Siegfried has worked in various leading positions in the AV industry for almost 25 years, with nearly two decades at Crestron, including six years managing DACH region with sales and personnel responsibility. One of his key duties throughout his carrier has been the development of new business areas and sales strategies in the AV industry.
“After being in contact with the Lightware management for several years, I am very pleased to join this private-owned European company in this new position. I am sure that my experience in the AV business will help us to drive the further development of Lightware in the years to come to make Lightware a leader in the EMEA AV environment,” said Siegfried.
“I am honoured to welcome Siegfried to our team at Lightware. Siegfried has a successful and proven track record in business development and will be instrumental to strengthen and build further our presence across the EMEA region and support Lightware’s continued growth globally.” added Szabolcs Turi, executive director, business development at Lightware.

Italy - DTS has announced Giuseppe ‘Peppe’ Squitieri as new technical sales engineer. Peppe is a production technician, specialized in lighting technology and light designing and joins the Italian lighting company starting September 2022.
With a background in musical communication sciences and technology at the University of Milan, Peppe covered key roles in the lighting industry. For over 14 years in the entertains and communication abilities, teamwork and technical skills. The addition of Peppe to the team “is part of the ongoing process of DTS to strengthen the relationships worldwide, providing clients with great technical support, sales assistance and product demonstrations. We are pleased to give him our warmest welcome and we strongly believe he perfectly fits the company growth.”

UK - Lightware Visual Engineering has announced the appointments of Charlie Sullivan as head of business development and Chris Brzostowski as channel account manager, strengthening Lightware’s UK team.
Charlie Sullivan’s role will have a key focus on steering and cultivating relationships with Lightware’s consultants and end-users across the UK. He brings 12 years’ experience of business development in the professional AV and stadia/arena sectors, specialising in large-scale AV projects including Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Ferrari World and The Samsung Experience Centre Kings Cross. Most recently he held a senior commercial position at ZeeVee
Joining Sullivan is Chris Brzostowski, who will take a lead role in managing and developing relationships with Lightware’s system integrators. Having begun his career with True Colours (Midwich) he went on to hold senior positions at Atlona and Videlio and NEC. He was most recently business development manager at Hypervsn, working with end users, system integrators and distribution partner PSCo.
“We have seen an unprecedented growth of over 300% in the past 18 months. Timing couldn’t be any better to get two great additions to our team, in Charlie and Chris,” said Craig McQueen, sales director of Lightware UK.

South Africa - DWR Distribution has welcomed Darren Durbach, a well-known name in live events and AV, to the sales team.
“When I left school, I ended up studying electrical engineering,” Darren recalls. “But I had a passion for sound, and I was blessed that my brother was friends with Joe Copan’s middle son and that’s how I got in as a junior.” Darren completed his 18-month internship at Wild and Marr, a professional audio distributor, then for a very short stint worked at a computer-based company before being given a permanent position at Wild and Marr in February 1995. He stayed at the company for the next 27 years.
“I was mentored and guided by a subline human who regrettably is no longer with us,” Darren recalls of Joe who passed away in 2019.
“Darren has a commitment and passion for the industry which stands out,” says DWR’s Duncan Riley. “He is someone I respect and who puts in tremendous effort in all he does. I believe his passion will be contagious.”
“I am grateful to have the opportunity to join this dynamic team with its premier brand offering, to regurgitate my love and my passion for this industry and to connect again with all my loyal friends,” says Darren. “I am committed, hardworking and I’m very aligned with the whole mantra behind the people first concept. I think it’s all about relationships and making customers happy. I am looking forward to the opportunity.”

UK - Barney Jameson has joined the leadership team of online platform Second Warehouse. Jameson takes on the role of chief marketing officer as the redesigned Second Warehouse rolls out across Europe and the United States.
Jameson is the founder and managing director of marketing agency The Inside Story. He will continue in that role alongside his duties as Second Warehouse CMO.
Second Warehouse has secured fresh funding, a new headquarters in the United States and strengthened leadership team including CEO Phil Van Peborgh, head of sales Will Lewis and founder Stuart Kerrison.
“Second Warehouse is very dear to my heart and I’ve been delighted to watch it make such a strong return from the challenges of the pandemic,” says Jameson. “There are big plans underpinning the platform and a strong team of industry leaders steering the way forward. I consider it a compliment to be on the squad.”

USA - AtlasIED has announced three additions to the company, including Graham Hendry, VP of loudspeaker strategy; Mike Ulrich, VP of specialty acoustic projects and Riccardo Balistreri, director of acoustical engineering. The new hires are part of a strategic initiative that will focus on product development, strategy, design, and positioning of new products for the premium loudspeaker marketplace across a variety of industries including hospitality, specialty commercial, corporate, and entertainment.
“AtlasIED has significantly invested in talented people, infrastructure, and machinery over the past five years,” said John Ivey, CEO at AtlasIED. “We’ve created a foundation for innovation, and Graham, Riccardo, and Mike are joining us to help propel that innovative culture forward and translate it into solutions and platforms that benefit our industry, clients, and end users. Audio is in our blood. It’s how our family business began and will forever be our passion.”
Hendry joins AtlasIED in the newly created position as vice president of loudspeaker strategy. With more than 25 years in premium audio in engineering, business development, and leadership, Hendry will lead all facets of the company’s loudspeaker business strategy. During his career, Hendry served in multiple leadership positions and has extensive experience building teams and defining, developing and implementing product and brand strategy for a comprehensive range of products.
In another newly created position of VP of specialty acoustic projects, Ulrich will lead engine

UK - Polar has announced the expansion of its team with the appointment of Nick Bellis to the post of business development manager, professional audio.
An experienced pro audio sales manager and successful freelance FOH/monitor engineer, with more than 30 years’ experience in the live and installation markets, Nick joins Polar with specific responsibility for its Music Tribe brands. Polar recently entered a partnership to re-introduce direct supply of Music Tribe’s leading brands to the UK market.
Polar managing director John Midgley comments, “Nick is a highly respected figure in the industry and knows these brands inside out, having earlier in his career spent seven years working for Music Tribe in European sales. Add to this a hands-on appreciation of the products from his freelance role as a highly regarded pro audio engineer, and it’s easy to see why he is so well-suited to this position at Polar.”
Nick Bellis adds: “I’m delighted to be joining Polar at what is a very exciting time. The company’s strategic super partner relationship with Music Tribe gives our professional audio customers direct access to what is a formidable collection of iconic brands, all of which I’m very familiar with. I have a genuine passion for sound and using technology to push boundaries, so I’m looking forward to working with new and established customers to help them to achieve high quality solutions.”
Polar distributes the Midas, Klark Teknik, Lab Gruppen, Lake, Turbosound and Tannoy brands for Music Tribe in the UK.

USA - Lightware Visual Engineering has announced Clint Hoffman as vice president of business development for the Americas. Hoffman will establish and build customer relationships and support business development with global enterprise partners.
Hoffman has more than 35 years of success in sales, marketing, operations, and product development in the professional AV industry. Hoffman has worked with leading manufacturers, including Sony, Panasonic, Mitsubishi, and Kramer Electronics. Most recently, Hoffman served as the president and country manager for Kramer North America.
Hoffman brings a background in promoting and championing the professional AV industry through his leadership at AVIXA International. Hoffman is currently an adjunct faculty member of AVIXA International
“I am delighted to welcome Clint to our team at Lightware Visual Engineering,” said Jason Tirado, president of Lightware Visual Engineering. “Clint is well-recognized throughout the AV industry for his leadership over the last three decades. He will be instrumental in supporting Lightware’s continued growth and business success globally.”

UK - JB Toby, technical director of Avolites was the proud recipient of the 2022 Gottelier Award at this year’s PLASA Show, as voted for by his peers. Named in memory of Tony Gottelier, the renowned industry innovator and commentator, the award recognises individuals or teams of people who have made long-term contributions to the advancement of entertainment, presentation or installation technology.
JB Toby joined Avolites in the late ‘90s and focused on developing the dimming range which put Avolites in a powerful position in the live touring market. In 1999, he spearheaded the team behind the Art 2000 dimming range which is now a well-known product in the live entertainment, film and TV worlds. Not only would it start a revolution in intelligent dimming, the Art 2000 dimming range would also act as a catalyst within the film and TV world, being put to work on the sets of the Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings and James Bond movies. The legacy of the Art range continues in the form of Art 2000+ and Art 2020.
On receiving the award, JB Toby commented: “Receiving this award is something very special indeed. For years I have looked up to the other Gottelier Award holders in what they stood for, for seeding innovative ideas into the industry, and seeing them grow into beautiful shows. And today the industry has selected me to join that list. I would like to thank PLASA and the industry as a whole for this tremendous honour, and my family for giving me the extra time for innovation to serve this amazingly crazy and creative industry.

UK - TAIT has confirmed the appointment of Mark Dakin as managing director of TAIT Neasden & Haverhill in the UK.
Mark brings to TAIT over 40 years of production and technical direction for London’s principal opera companies and major performing arts venues, including the Royal Opera House, National Theatre and English National Opera.
In this new role, Mark will oversee local business operations, team and clients, whilst working closely with the Global Executive Group.
Mark Dakin comments: “The one thing that links the many varied roles I have held over the 40 years of my career, is the artistic application of technical expertise, the joy of collaborative practise and the balancing of the systems that enhance and deliver the artistic vision of creatives and optimise the business imperatives of producers and organisations.
“I am thrilled to be joining TAIT where my experience and these shared passions are at the heart of building a world-class, inclusive workplace, where the ambition and creativity of producers, directors, designers, architects, engineers, technicians and craftspeople can continue to thrive, and where the discovery of new fertile ground for the world’s imagination will build new opportunity to grow the broadest range of entertainment experiences for the future.”
Adam Davis, CEO, TAIT Group comments, “Mark is a motivational leader at the top of his craft and we are delighted to welcome him to TAIT. As we continue to develop our best-in-class teams for all our audience groups, Mark’s unique experience and

Canada - Elation Professional has announced that Illumixx - a new distribution company owned by Christie Lites - has been appointed the exclusive distributor for Elation Professional products in Canada. The distribution partnership which also covers the distribution of Obsidian Control Systems and Magmatic atmospheric effects products, went into effect on 1 September, 2022.
Claudia Pfaffinger, CEO of Christie Lites Sales, the sales and integration arm of Christie, stated, “Illumixx brings an understanding of the needs of the professional lighting marketplace. We are confident that this partnership will result in wide product range availability and local stock for quicker deliveries and service.”
Christie Lites provides professional stage lighting systems for a broad range of market sectors and is one of the largest stage lighting companies in North America with locations across the U.S. and Canada. The company’s leading position in the entertainment lighting industry has been built across decades of excellence in personnel and equipment combined with a strong customer focus. The new distribution company, Illumixx, will focus solely on B2B sales and support of professional lighting products within Canada.
“Product availability and first-class customer support are key pillars of our two companies and our plan and vision on how to grow the Elation brand in Canada aligns perfectly with our two companies,” stated Eric Loader, director of sales and marketing at Elation Professional. “Despite the supply chain challenges over the past couple y

USA - EAW has announced that Steve Badham will be returning to the company covering technical sales throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Badham has a long history in the professional audio industry and in particular with EAW.
“We are excited to welcome Steve back to the EAW family,” says TJ Smith, president, Eastern Acoustic Works (EAW). “Steve’s experience, product knowledge and technical savvy make him a great addition back to our team. With Steve’s contributions and hard work, we look forward to continuing to grow the EAW brand in the EMEA territories.”
Badham’s association with EAW began about two decades ago where he held the position of European technical sales engineer. During his time at EAW, Badham spearheaded several high-profile projects in the region including the Barcelona Football Club’s Camp Nou Stadium and EAW's first UK multiplex cinemas in Epsom and Bradford. In his new role, Badham will be instrumental in the sales process, as the EAW sales team will rely on him for technical expertise and consultation. As a liaison, Badham will also directly advise customers on product features and configurations.
“I have always liked the engineering aspect of EAW and am excited to be back with such a forward-thinking company,” adds Badham. “I firmly agree with EAW’s core design philosophies such as focusing, symmetry of sources and spaced woofers for exemplary pattern control, and the broad product range gives me an enormous audio toolbox to work with. It’s fantastic to be working with this talented and passio

UK - TSL has announced Matthew Quade has been named CEO of the company. Chris Exelby, who was named managing director in 2007, will remain on the company’s board of directors as executive chairman and will continue to work with TSL in a senior advisory role.
Quade steps into his new position after working with TSL on a project basis for over six years, including leading implementation of the company’s M&A strategy. More recently, he held the role of COO and is already a well-respected and valued member of the TSL team. Over the last six months, the TSL Board and Quade have been working on the transition into the new role, and he will focus on continuing the brand’s tradition of developing innovative broadcast solutions.
“With getting to know the TSL team and the broadcast industry over the last few years, the opportunity to lead the business through its next ambitious phase of growth and technology development was a hugely attractive proposition,” says Quade. “With TSL remaining profitable throughout COVID, already bouncing back to pre-COVID levels of revenue and knowing the ambitious plans for growth that are already well underway, I am delighted to have been offered this opportunity. I look forward to working with Chris and the rest of the team to lead TSL into this next exciting new chapter.”

UK - Highlite’s UK sales representative Dave Hartley will be enjoying his well-deserved retirement from 15 September. Jeff Davenport will follow in his footsteps and be the new contact for Highlite-related matters and products in the North of the UK region.
Jeff Davenport will be taking over the UK sales representative position at Highlite from Dave Hartley. Jeff will start on 1 September. During the overlap period, Dave will bring Jeff up to speed on the current state of affairs. Jeff will dive right in at the upcoming PLASA Show at the Olympia London (4-6 September), where he will join the team on stand (B23) to introduce himself to the market and clients.
Jeff is already familiar with the market, as he has previously worked for several businesses that are active in the industry. From his hometown of Burton upon Trent, he can be contacted at Jeff.Davenport@highlite.com.

UK - Solotech has announced the appointment of Lee Unsworth as director of UK operations – live productions, working out of the group’s Manchester office.
In this new role, Lee will oversee the day-to-day running of the company’s live productions operations at the five warehouse locations in Manchester, Redditch, Hemel Hempstead, London and Southampton. Lee first joined the group as operations manager for the Manchester office in June 2019 before stepping up to the role of general manager.
Lee Unsworth commented, “I’m looking forward to taking on this expanded role. Since becoming part of the Solotech group we have sought to standardise and integrate our processes across the UK operations and this position is key to delivering on that promise. I look forward to maintaining and extending our hire inventory to meet the demand of our clients, while overseeing our manufacturing operations from Sigma Fabrications and BCS Cases.”
UK managing director Bryce Jewell added, “Since joining the company, Lee has been a key leader in our UK operations. He’s an emphatic manager who has an excellent knowledge of our industry. I am confident he will continue to provide Solotech UK with outstanding service and commitment and will be pivotal in the continued growth of our UK operations.”
Solotech is also announcing that Pete Gale has been promoted to head of UK assets. Pete leads the asset management team responsible for managing rental assets to maximise profitability and efficiency. Together with data from business intelligence, they will he

UK - Martin Audio has announced the appointment of Henry Packard as its new finance director.
Henry had previously been financial controller at parent company Focusrite. He said the drive to fill the vacant position, following the departure of his predecessor Steve Miller, had become more pressing with the growth of Martin Audio and the launch of sister brand Optimal Audio. “As Dom [Harter, Martin Audio MD] and Sally [McKone, Group CFO] are in regular discussion the move came about quite organically,” he said.
“An internal move is great for the company and generally for everyone involved. I’ve effectively had a six-year interview process to prove myself with Focusrite, so it was a lovely surprise to be told I was being considered. There was no way I could let the opportunity pass, and after a few further chats with Sally and Dom, it seemed like a great match all round.”
Welcoming the new FD, Dom Harter said, “Henry has been a great addition to the management team. It’s another great example of providing opportunity for employees within the Focusrite Group and with Henry’s quality of thought, skillset and energy, I’m delighted with the progress and contribution he is making.”

USA - Clear-Com has announced the appointment of Marco Lopez as the company’s VP of engineering. Marco brings 30 years of experience in the broadcast market to his role at Clear-Com, where he will spearhead innovation across key strategic areas related to product development, including strengthening the company’s leadership in wireless technology and advancing its IP-based intercom solutions.
Over the past three decades, Marco has contributed to significant movements in broadcast technology. In the mid-2000s, he played a key role in the transformation of analog to digital signals with Miranda Technologies and helped develop the Active Format Description (AFD) standard that defined aspect ratio control between standard and high-definition broadcasting. After Miranda Technologies was acquired by Belden, Marco was appointed president and tasked with leading the acquisition of Grass Valley, where he eventually managed the company’s Live Production business unit.
“We are excited to have Marco on board,” said Mitzi Dominguez, CEO of Clear-Com. “He brings a wealth of technical expertise as well as an intrinsic understanding of the needs of our Broadcast users from his years in the industry, a unique and valuable combination for the business. He shares our enthusiasm for customer service and the drive for innovation leading our next generation of products.”