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15 October 2025

The Netherlands - Elation is excited to announce that Jacob Coakley has joined the team as marketing brand manager. In this cross-departmental role, Coakley will lead efforts to align brand messaging and execution, ensuring a cohesive brand strategy across all channels.

“Jacob’s breadth of experience in the industry makes him an invaluable addition to the Elation team,” stated Eric Loader, Elation global vice president of sales. “His role at the intersection of marketing, sales, and product development will be key in aligning our strategy and driving market messaging to support our continued growth. We look forward to the energy and insight he brings.”

Coakley has nearly 20 years of experience in marketing, communications, and editorial leadership in the entertainment and lighting industry. He joins Elation from ETC, where he contributed ac

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15 October 2025

USA - EAW has announced the appointment of Chris Wilson as education and training engineer, reporting to vice president of sales, Mark Posgay.

“Adding value to our customers through education is central to how we support their success,” says TJ Smith, president of Eastern Acoustic Works. “Chris’ deep background in both engineering and training makes him an incredible asset, and we’re excited for the expertise and inspiration he will provide to the EAW team and community.”

In his new role at EAW, Wilson will lead both in-person and virtual product certification sessions while also developing general education trainings on audio fundamentals including system design, the physics of sound and loudspeaker technology.

Wilson brings over two decades of experience as an audio engineer, trainer and product specialist, with a career spannin

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10 October 2025

UK - Audiologic has appointed Bobby Sohal as procurement manager and Steve Cox as business manager (South region), in a move that signals a continued investment in the company’s operational excellence and partner support infrastructure.

Bobby Sohal brings over 20 years of AV procurement experience, having held such roles at established integrators including Solotech UK Group, Feltech Electronics and CSL Integration.

Steve Cox assumes the business manager (South) role vacated by Matt Nettlefold after his promotion to head of technical. A veteran of Samsung’s channel sales team in the UK, Steve is new to the AV sector but experienced as a customer relationship manager and growth driver in the B2B technology space.

Managing director Andy Lewis commented, “Bringing specialists of both Bobby and Steve’s calibre onboard is a direct reflecti

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09 October 2025

DACH - d&b audiotechnik has appointed Markus Zimehl as commercial director for the DACH region.

With more than a decade of experience in the pro audio industry, Zimehl most recently served as area manager DACH & North Europe at Adam Hall, overseeing 10 sales regions across DACH, Benelux, and Scandinavia. Previously, he managed global inside sales and export departments and has hands-on experience in music retail and as a FOH technician.

“To me, d&b sets the absolute benchmark in sound, whether at a large festival or in a restaurant. You can always expect excellent audio with even coverage across every corner of the venue. My impression has always been that d&b has come a long way and continues to push boundaries, especially with immersive solutions such as d&b Soundscape proving that stereo isn’t the final word in live audio,

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09 October 2025

USA - Bose Professional has announced the promotion of Matt Calhoun to chief operating officer and Shawn Watts to vice-president of product, effective immediately.

Matt Calhoun has been a driving force at Bose Professional for over two decades. “Matt has preserved the best of our heritage while championing the agility of a startup,” said John Maier, CEO of Bose Professional. “His leadership has been instrumental in rebuilding our operations and positioning us for long-term success.”

As COO, Calhoun will oversee global operations and continue to lead initiatives that enhance speed, efficiency, and customer impact. “We’ve rebuilt our foundation to serve our customers better than ever,” said Calhoun. “I’m honoured to help lead this next chapter of growth and innovation.”

Shawn Watts, now vice-president of product, brings over

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07 October 2025

USA - As Adamson continues to expand its manufacturing facilities in Canada to meet rising global demands, the company is simultaneously expanding regional sales and applications teams to provide hands-on support to its customer base.

“We’re thrilled to have Sean join our team as regional sales manager US,” says Frank Loyko, US sales director for Adamson. “With his vast experience in pro audio, most notably with Bosch Building Technologies in the install vertical, combined with a high-performing track record of customer success, we are confident that Sean will greatly contribute to taking the brand to the next level in our territory.”

“Having Sean joining our sales organisation is part of Adamson’s strategy of global expansion. Sales is foremost about building a relationship based on mutual trust, and customers will know that Sean has t

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07 October 2025

Portugal - Europalco has appointed Francisco Capote da Silva as its new sales director. With a background in international MICE sales and a passion for innovation, Capote da Silva steps into this role to strengthen client relationships and support the Lisbon-based company’s continued expansion in key markets.

“Throughout my career, I have always sought challenges that allow me to grow, learn, and, most importantly, make a meaningful contribution to the projects and teams I work with,” said Capote da Silva. “Joining Europalco marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter, both personally and professionally.”

Before joining the firm, Capote da Silva held senior sales roles at W Algarve, a luxury resort in southern Portugal, as senior sales manager, and at Discovery Hotel Management as head of sales MICE International.

“We are delig

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06 October 2025

USA - PPDS has announced the appointment of AV expert, Emily Pirtle as regional sales manager for TOLA, encompassing Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Arkansas

Reporting to Bruce Wyrwitzke, director of sales for North America at PPDS, Emily’s primary responsibilities will include developing and managing key relationships with integrators, resellers, and customers, identifying new sales opportunities and leads, and collaborating with partners.

She will also work with national and international teams to develop and implement new strategies to further increase and expand brand recognition and drive product awareness of PPDS' evolving portfolio of Philips Professional Displays, and complementary hardware and software solutions, to a wider audience.

Bruce Wyrwitzke commented: “Emily’s experience, enthusiasm, and proven commitment to best pract

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03 October 2025

UK - Unusual Industries has announced ‘a planned transition’ in its senior financial leadership. Mark Wylie has been appointed finance director, and will fully succeed Brian Rose, following his service in the role since 1988.

Brian will not be stepping away entirely. He will continue to support Unusual Rigging in an advisory capacity remaining as a director, providing strategic guidance and insight to the leadership team.

Mark joined Unusual Rigging in 2022 as part of the company’s structured succession planning strategy, designed to ensure continuity and stability across key leadership positions. Over the past few years, he has worked alongside Brian, gaining an understanding of the company’s operations and financial strategy, and preparing for this next step in his career.

Reflecting on the transition, Mark said: “I am honoured to

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03 October 2025

UK - The Association of British Theatre Technicians (ABTT) presented playwright and director Sir Alan Ayckbourn with the ABTT Stephen Joseph Lifetime Achievement Award, in recognition of his ‘extraordinary contributions to theatre-in-the-round and his enduring impact on British theatre’.

The presentation took place at the Stephen Joseph Theatre (SJT) in Scarborough on 28 September, following a rehearsed reading of Ayckbourn’s play Relatively Speaking. This year marks the 70th anniversary of professional theatre-in-the-round - a movement Sir Alan has championed throughout his remarkable career.

The award was established by the ABTT’s Stephen Joseph Committee (SJC) to commemorate the legacy of Stephen Joseph - a founding member of the ABTT and one of the foremost pioneers of theatre-in-the-round in the UK. The honour is awarded to indi

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30 September 2025

USA - LightParts Inc. has welcomed Patti Mokry back to the team. Patti started at LightParts in 2014 and will again be handling sales and rentals.

Robert Mokry, CFO and co-owner of LightParts says: “We couldn’t be happier to have Patti return to the LightParts family. She brings a wealth of experience and a great reputation in the industry to the gig. As LightParts expands more and more into sales and repair of lighting equipment, Patti’s knowledge and skills will play a key role in that growth.”

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26 September 2025

Germany - d&b group is reorganising its leadership. Effective 1 January 2026, Amnon Harman will step down as chief executive officer after more than 11 years, handing over the role to Jaakko Kaivonen, the current chief revenue officer.

Since 2014, Amnon Harman has been instrumental in shaping d&b’s development. Under his leadership, both revenue and headcount have more than quadrupled, outpacing the market. The company has expanded internationally and strengthened its position as a leading provider of professional audio technologies and solutions.

“It has been a great pleasure, honour, and also a responsibility to help shape d&b over the past 11 years into the leading audio technology company we are today,” says Amnon Harman. “Together with many brilliant minds inside and outside of d&b, we have advanced the company strategica

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25 September 2025

APAC - AtlasIED has announced the appointment of Glenn Lin as director of sales, APAC, strengthening the company’s commitment to supporting partners and expanding its presence throughout the APAC region.

With over 20 years of experience in business development and sales across the APAC region, his career has focused on expanding market presence, building distributor networks, and strengthening B2B relationships. Lin will report directly to Matt Czyzewski, the executive vice-president of AtlasIED.

"The APAC region is a crucial area for growth for AtlasIED, and Glenn's leadership will be vital in strengthening relationships and expanding opportunities in these diverse markets," stated Czyzewski. "His extensive knowledge of the region, combined with a proven record of success, makes him an ideal candidate for this role."

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23 September 2025

MEA - Renkus-Heinz has appointed Rahul Mankar as regional sales manager for the Middle East and Africa (MEA).

Rahul brings 17 years of sales experience with him, having worked in various strategic, decision-making roles with a particular focus on audio-visual experiences within the luxury-tech space. “I’m truly honoured to join Renkus‑Heinz,” says Rahul. “This role represents a strategic opportunity to channel my passion for sound in partnership with a visionary leader in professional audio by ensuring the right loudspeaker technology is applied and implemented to the right environments.” 

Rahul will be working closely with Karan Kathuria, director of sales and business development for APAC and MEA, and the wider sales team to help deliver Renkus-Heinz's global goals. “Renkus-Heinz endeavours to deliver exceptional customer experience

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22 September 2025

USA - Solid State Logic has appointed CJ Lewis to the position of national sales manager, Western US, where he is responsible for SSL, Harrison Audio and Slate Digital ACP (Audio Creation Product) solutions. In his new role, Lewis joins SSL’s US-based distributor, Group One Ltd as part of its expanding business development and customer relationships, reporting to Rick Naqvi, senior VP of USA sales.

Lewis, who is based in Denver, CO brings more than two decades of sales management and product expertise to his role. Prior to starting with SSL, he has worked as a regional sales manager for Mackie, as a partner for pro audio rep firm the Marshank Group, as a studio and live musician, and as a worship mentor. In the retail domain, Lewis also served as a sales manager for GC Pro for several years.

"Throughout my audio career, I've approached studio probl

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17 September 2025

UK - PK Sound, the robotic line array company, has welcomed pro audio industry veteran Mike Case to its team in the role of director of global network & partnerships. Based in the UK, Case brings a strong history of establishing new technologies and advancing industry-leading brands to the Calgary-based manufacturer.

“PK Sound has developed the most exciting and relevant new technology I’ve seen in years, with the power to significantly change the way people work in this industry,” says Case. “Not only do PK’s robotic systems deliver better acoustic performance than conventional line arrays; they also save time and money thanks to a truly new and innovative feature set. This is a young, talented, and passionate team full of exciting potential and I look forward to realising that together with our partner network.”

Case played a pivota

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17 September 2025

South Africa - Mediatech Africa has confirmed that co-owner Simon Robinson has returned full-time as exhibition director to steer the show’s comeback edition, 1–3 July 2026 at Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit & International Convention Centre, Johannesburg.

Robinson launched Mediatech in 2001 at the Sandton Convention Centre and has guided its growth into Africa’s cornerstone event for professional AV, broadcast, production, staging, lighting, and display technology. During the show’s six-year hiatus, he kept close to the market – project-managing large-scale productions and events, and serving as business development manager at one of SA’s big AV distributors.

“Stepping out of the organiser role for a season let me see the industry from other angles,” says Robinson. “Running projects on the ground and spending time

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16 September 2025

Europe - Absen has announced the appointment of Martine Dodwell-Bennett as its new sales director in Europe. Working as part of Absen’s ProAV division, Martine will focus on driving revenue growth, expanding market presence and ensuring operational excellence in the delivery of major projects.

With over 25 years of experience, Martine is a proven sales and management professional. As the former managing director at 3Squared, she led the company in delivering cloud-based software solutions to infrastructure and train operators, readying it for a successful merger with other transport-sector software providers to create Velociti Solutions.

At Lutron Electronics, she played a pivotal role in driving growth and market expansion across Europe and Africa.

“It’s an exciting time to come onboard with Absen, and I’m looking forward to working

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16 September 2025

USA - tvONE has expanded its North, Central and South America (NCSA) sales team with the appointment of two new regional sales managers. Steve Payne joins as Midwest regional sales manager, and Mike Dailey takes on the same role for the Northeast.

Based in Chicago, Steve Payne brings 20 years of AV industry experience. His career spans sales with AV manufacturer Analog Way, along with extensive hands-on expertise in live events, rental and staging as a video engineer, and integration work as both a field engineer and onsite collaboration engineer.

Based in Northern New Jersey, Mike Dailey offers three decades of AV sales experience across manufacturers, distribution, and representative firms. Earlier in his career, he also spent five years as a morning radio host in Las Vegas and Connecticut.

Jonathan Begleiter, director of sales, NCSA, said:

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12 September 2025

Europe - David Schubert has joined the sales team of GLP as senior sales manager. In his new role, he supports sales activities in Germany and Switzerland, contributing to the continued expansion of the company’s market presence.

A trained wholesale and foreign trade specialist, Schubert brings more than two decades of experience in the professional event and media technology industry. Following his vocational training, he gained extensive expertise in both inside and field sales and soon specialised in the distribution of lighting technology. Since 2010, he has been continuously active in sales, focusing primarily on field sales from 2015 onwards.

“I am very excited about my new role at GLP and about introducing our innovative products to customers, supporting them in turning their creative ideas into reality, while also nurturing existing partn

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11 September 2025

UK - Wharfedale Pro has welcomed Han Luis Cera to its team. Based in the UK, Han joins as application and solutions manager strengthening the Wharfedale Pro international team.

Han has extensive experience as a live sound engineer, primarily FOH and monitor engineering, as well as being the module leader in both digital production implementation and advanced mixing techniques. He is also a successful musician, composer and producer, whose work was featured in various BBC nature documentaries.

Danny Clarke, sales director at Wharfedale Pro, comments: "Han's extensive knowledge will be a valuable asset for us here at Wharfedale Pro. He will be joining Marko and Marci within the Application and Solutions team, strengthening our global support for all our customers. It's a pleasure to have him on board."

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10 September 2025

Europe - PPDS, global provider of Philips Professional Displays and complementary solutions, has announced the appointment of digital signage sales specialist, Hendrik Hack.

Taking the role of sales manager digital signage for north and northeast Germany, Hendrik joins PPDS with a career spanning almost 10 years, specialising exclusively in digital signage and interactive display sales and project management.

Based in Hamburg, Hendrik brings knowledge and experience to PPDS’ DACH sales team, providing a holistic perspective of the AV channel, having previously held roles in manufacturing, distribution, sales, projects, and aftercare.

Reporting to Konstantin Flabouriaris, sales director for DACH, Hendrik will play a key role in PPDS achieving its growth ambitions for Philips digital signage, as well as value added solutions such as Philips W

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10 September 2025

USA - Bandit Lites has announced the addition of Mark Butler as project manager. With decades of international experience in the lighting and entertainment industry, Butler brings considerable knowledge of touring, production, and technical leadership to the Bandit team.

Butler, who is transferring from Las Vegas to Knoxville, has collaborated with top artists, cruise lines, and theatrical productions. His expertise includes Vectorworks drafting, show control, rigging, automation, and live event setup, along with his positive demeaner he brings to every project. He has successfully managed cross-disciplinary teams, trained crews, and led large-scale technical operations in high-pressure environments around the world.

“I’m grateful to use my experience to make life on the road easier for the crew,” said Butler. “What stands out most to me is B

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04 September 2025

USA - Christie has announced the appointment of Jim Hallas as vice-president, product management. Reporting to president and COO Michael Phipps, Hallas will lead the company’s display product strategy, ensuring Christie delivers customer-centric solutions that advance the cinema, ProAV, and industrial markets.  

Jim holds graduate degrees in engineering and business and brings a wealth of diverse experience. He has served as an adjunct professor and an entrepreneur and has built businesses within leading technology organisations, including IBM and Texas Instruments (TI). Most recently, Hallas served as business and engineering manager for the DLP Cinema, ProAV, and Industrial Group at TI, where his team pioneered the HEP pixel technology and holds five patents for various technology innovations.

Michael Phipps, president and COO of Christie, says