UK - Paradigm Audiio Visual has appointed Gareth Houghton as sales specialist for the dnp Supernova front projection screens. A self-confessed gadgets and new technology fan, Houghton joins having returned from two years in Australia, after previously working in the print industry.

"All the core skills I acquired in that industry are transferable," he said. "I will be building up customer relations in this market, demonstrating to them the huge potential of the Supernova platform, and proving it to be the most superior front projection solution in the industry."

(Jim Evans)

USA - Audinate has announced the expansion of its US headquarters located in Portland, Oregon. In addition to serving as its US headquarters, the new facility will house its training and support centre.

"Our new training center provides our OEM customers a comprehensive support system and is a reflection of the significant growth we're experiencing," said Lee Ellison, CEO of Audinate. "We are also pleased to announce that Brad Price has been appointed as Sr. technical solution manager.'

Brad Price comes to Audinate with an extensive background in audio engineering, music performance and software product development. Working with GenevaLogic and Netop, he managed the development of networked real-time video software for school classrooms, providing technical communications and direct customer support services. Working with Phoenix Gold, he developed crossovers an

UK - Martin Professional has appointed Mike Walker as the company's new sales director for the UK entertainment market.

Walker, who started in the position on 4 May, working from Martin UK's new London office, brings a wealth of AV industry experience with him. After working at the video rental company Creative Technology for 14 years, the last five as sales director, he operated his own independent audiovisual consultancy the past two years. His experience spans all segments of the entertainment and live event sectors.

Commenting on his hiring, Walker stated, "It is an exciting time to join the industry and one of the most important manufacturers in it. This is a time of great product development and innovation, including the convergence with video.

"It feels like a natural and logical career progression from video into the lighting and visual solutions business a

UK - Sennheiser UK has appointed Nick 'Biggles' Pemberton as business development manager for the company's Installed Sound division.

Pemberton joins Sennheiser from the position of digital systems manager at Yamaha Commercial Audio, where he became a familiar face in the industry and used his many years experience as a freelance sound engineer to aid a wide range of customers and end-users.

"Despite his nickname, Nick is thoroughly down to earth and a highly experienced audio professional," says Ken Morrison, business area manager for the company's Installed Sound division. "I'm delighted to welcome him to Sennheiser UK, where I know he will be a huge asset.

"As a well known and respected figure in the industry, he brings the strength of some great relationships within the installed and live sound industries and a vast technical knowledge. He will be wor

UK - Events, production and communication specialists, R&B Group has added new staff at both head office in Newcastle and their Yorkshire branch in Harrogate.

John Robinson, aged 18 from Felling in Gateshead, joins the Graphics department as the company's first real apprentice. He will work closely with Zak Hussain, graphics manager in the areas of set design, 3D animation and managing web-site content.

Ben Middleton was welcomed back to R&B Group Yorkshire recently, having previously worked with the company on freelance and short-term contracts. Middleton was selected to join the team in order to support the continued growth of R&B Group in the Yorkshire region. His role will involve the preparation, load and installation of equipment, along with the operation of equipment during live events for clients such as RICS, The Royal College of Nursing and York Racecourse.

(Jim Ev

UK - Maurice Marshal, MBE and co-founder of Stage Electrics, died on Saturday 10 July 2010 following a courageous fight against cancer, aged 76. A life-long passion for the technical side of theatre saw Maurice pursue a dual career as a partner in Stage Electrics and also as chief electrician at the Northcott Theatre in Exeter, where he launched the careers of a number of the country's top stage lighting designers and technicians. His services to drama and his commitment to training in theatre resulted in him being awarded an MBE in 2009.

Maurice co-founded Stage Electrics with David Whitehead in 1979, and the company has grown into an internationally trading business with a turnover of £27.5 million. Recently, with the onset of illness, Maurice has helped create the current management structure to ensure that the company continues to thrive without his guidance.

His lon

Denmark - Martin Professional has appointed Jessica Allan as new business area manager - touring & production for Martin's Danish-based EMEA sales organization.

Having worked as a sales manager in the UK for the past seven years, in her new role Allan will primarily focus on identifying new trends, as well as expanding services and strengthening relationships with LDs and key customers European-wide, in one of the company's key market areas.

"For the past seven years I've been lucky enough to work with a great customer base within the UK, which has included numerous companies, venues and freelancers, many of whom have become lifelong friends," says Allan. "This new role will be a natural progression to do the same European-wide in a market area that I really enjoy working in. It is also perfect timing as we have launched a number of new and exciting products so

UK - Emma Thorpe, a well known figure in the industry, having worked for Martin Professional as their UK marketing co-ordinator for several years, has decided to go into business for herself as a Virtual Assistant.

Emma explains: "a Virtual Assistant (VA), is an experienced professional who provides a range of administrative and marketing services for busy business people, undertaken remotely from their own office."

So often, while Emma was at Martin, she would speak to many clients who didn't have the time to write their press releases or complete their exhibition paperwork; all of which help to promote their business; because they were always out on site setting up equipment, or seeing potential customers. These clients didn't have the time or resources to have an assistant in the office to help with various marketing or administrative tasks, so Emma believes that

UK - Media Powerhouse, one of London's leading AV rental services companies, announced that Simon Ireland will head its sets and staging division. Ireland who joined the company last year from Scenicplus has worked in scenic construction since 1986, bringing a wealth of expertise to help drive Media Powerhouse's comprehensive AV rental service solution.Michael Breen, Chief Executive Officer at Media Powerhouse comments: "Simon's expertise is second to none when it comes to sets and staging so we feel privileged to have him on board. His appointment also supports our customer focused ethos at Media Powerhouse. We provide our clients with a solution that includes not only the latest in equipment but also the very best in industry expertise."At Media Powerhouse, Ireland will have a dedicated 5000 sq ft workshop based at Elstree Film Studios with the resources to showcase th

USA - Audinate has announced the hiring of John McMahon as its new vice president worldwide sales and support. He will be responsible for expanding Audinate's sales and customer support organisations.

Previously, McMahon has held various leadership positions in the field of networking and Audio-Visual companies over the past 25 years. He formerly held the position of COO and EVP at Network Engineering Technologies, Inc. and also served as VP of U.S. Markets for Polycom.

"Audinate is positioned for significant growth with the industry adoption of its patented Dante media networking solution. Customers recognise that Dante offers a market leading solution today, while also providing a migration path to upgrade to new standards such as the emerging IEEE Audio Video Bridging (AVB) standard." states McMahon.

"John's strong track record for developing strategic sale

USA - D.A.S. Audio USA, has hired Steve Trimble for the newly created position of Southeast regional sales manager. In his new role with the company, he will oversee both sales and technical support for the Southeast United States. Trimble's background encompasses retail sales, system design, pro touring, and sales management. He will be stationed in Nashville, TN.

Trimble comments on his new position, "With a highly respected and comprehensive product line, D.A.S. Audio represents a terrific opportunity for me to take an active sales and support role with a well-known loudspeaker manufacturer. I've always had a passion for audio and this new position enables me to become further involved with a business that is near and dear to my heart while enabling me to flex my skills as a sales professional. It's the perfect combination of responsibilities and I'm delighted to be on-b

UK - Karl Chapman has joined Midas Klark Teknik in the newly-created role of sales manager, EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa). The move continues the manufacturer's ongoing drive to provide dedicated sales support across all global territories.

Chapman, who has enjoyed a long career in pro audio, joins the company after 15 years in European sales at console manufacturer Soundcraft. Prior to this, he held positions at Amek and Mitsubishi Electric UK and Neve Electronics.

"I'm delighted to be joining Midas Klark Teknik," says Chapman. "It's clear that the company has been very active in the world of digital, and I am looking forward to working with John Oakley and the sales team to establish an even stronger presence in the markets of Europe, the Middle East and Africa."

Adds John Oakley, general manager of Midas Klark Teknik, "Karl is one of the best

USA - Guitar Center Professional (GC Pro) has appointed industry veteran Doug Simpson to spearhead a new sales initiative specifically geared toward providing the Las Vegas market with special access to all of GC Pro's services, with a particular focus on the hotel/hospitality industry. The announcement was made by GC Pro director Rick Plushner, and represents the division's ongoing commitment to the continuing growth of GC Pro as a turnkey supplier for professional end users, says the company.

Doug Simpson has over 20 years of experience using and selling professional audio and video gear, and has lived and worked in the Las Vegas market for six years. Most recently, Simpson was the regional manager for Vegas-based MDM Group, where he managed all aspects of the Convention Services division.

States Simpson, "In Las Vegas, we have everything from major recording studios an

UK - Analog Way UK is expanding its activities with relocation to a new facility, hiring of a new sales manager and organisation of a one-week roadshow in August through England.

Inaugurated in May 2010, Analog Way UK will move to a new facility in August. Located in London, the new office offers larger space in order to integrate training facilities and reinforce customer service quality.

The Analog Way UK team is also growing with the appointment of Andrew Smith, who joined Régis Pirot in July 2010, as area sales manager. "I am pleased to join Analog Way as area sales manager, as I feel this is a company with a clear sense of direction, innovative products and a great future in prospect," comments Smith.

"With more than 25 years experience in the UK Audio Visual market working with well-known distributors, I am hoping to be able to help companies in t

Canada -Ross Video has announced the appointment of Nigel Spratling into product marketing where he will focus on the marketing of Ross Video's production switcher product lines.

Spratling has held senior positions at Snell & Wilcox, NVISION, ADC Telecommunications, and Sigma Electronics. He was responsible for creating the NAB-HD pavilion, has served as chair of the NAB Exhibitor's board, and has acted as a marketing and technology consultant for the organisation

"We are excited to have Nigel join our team here at Ross," said David Ross, CEO, Ross Video. "A well respected industry veteran, Nigel possesses a depth of industry experience, enthusiasm and creativity that we know will benefit our flagship Vision and CrossOver production switchers and significantly contribute to Ross continuing to deliver compelling product experiences to our customers."

(Jim

USA - American DJ's Chuck Green has been promoted to the position of international sales representative for Asia and Canada.

"I'm extremely excited and optimistic about my new position," says Green. "I am looking forward to becoming part of our stellar international team here at American DJ."

Scott Davies, general manager of the American DJ Group of Companies, adds, "We are very excited to promote Chuck Green to his well-deserved new position within the company; his passion for music and his understanding of our vast family of products really embodies what American DJ is all about."

(Jim Evans)

USA - Crown Audio has appointed Eric Friedlander to the role of business developer, tour sound. In this role, Friedlander will be responsible for supporting sales in the tour sound market and working closely with the customer base to provide tailored solutions to meet each customer's specific needs. He will report to Crown's market manager for tour sound, Brian Pickowitz.

Prior to joining Crown, Friedlander served as a staff audio engineer for LD Systems L.P., a major sound, light and video production firm. In this role he was responsible for the production of corporate and special events, designing and deploying specialized sound reinforcement systems as well as mixing live performances.

Friedlander also previously held the position of sound engineer and systems tech for Maryland Sound International, where he was a technician for major live event productions. Among the

USA - Crown Audio has appointed Daniel Saenz to the position of market manager, installed sound. Saenz will be responsible for working directly with customers to support design and development of installed systems and deployment of Crown amplifiers for install applications. He will report to vice president of marketing, Marc Kellom.

Prior to joining Crown, Saenz served in multiple roles at Pelton, Marsh, and Kinsella, LLC., an AV consulting and design firm, most recently as senior director of marketing and business development and managed the Las Vegas office. In this role he was responsible for marketing acoustics, AV, telecommunication and security services as well as consulting on major projects in the Las Vegas market. These projects ranged from hotels to theatres/showrooms and education facilities.

"At Crown we understand the need to educate our customer base on the

UK - David Hornby has been appointed a board director of Jamie Oliver's Fabulous Feasts. After 15 years working in the hospitality sector with groups including Thistle Hotels, Marriott DeVere and Intercontinental, Hornby spent six years with Visit London as its commercial director.

Managing director Glen Chadwick comments, "David will be a great asset in helping us communicate the real differences Jamie Oliver's Fabulous Feasts' can bring to an event."

(Jim Evans)

UK - TMB has announced the addition of Erica Frost to its Product Specialist Group. Her primary role will be working in TMB's 24-hour Tech Support Group, with additional product training responsibilities.

Based in London, Frost gained years of hands-on experience, as a crew member on live productions, and as an audio engineer in studios and clubs. She earned her BSc degree in Live Event Technology at the University of Glamorgan in Cardiff after two years at the University of Salford in Manchester, where she graduated from its HND Audio and Video Systems programme.

"I prefer the live experience to the studio," says Frost. "Outside the studio, we don't have the luxury of correcting a problem over and over again. There's nothing quite like the challenge of getting it right the first time, quickly."

CEO Colin Waters says, "Nothing is more important to TM

UK - After eight years with Pro Audio Asia and Pro Audio Middle East magazines, industry journalist Tim Goodyer has established an open-agenda international blog for the pro audio and A/V communities - Fast-and-Wide.com.

In addition to relaying the latest pro audio news, and providing access to a selection of technical papers and instructional videos, Fast-and-Wide enables visitors to comment on items, as well as follow through social media including Twitter and YouTube.

With wide-ranging news of international business and equipment announcements, and supporting services in place, Fast-and-Wide will soon host a discussion forum for industry issues and developments.

"I aim to encourage a free exchange of ideas, information and concerns, with the best interests of our industry in mind," Goodyer says. "With the global economy, 'green' initiatives, c

USA - Scala, a global provider of digital signage and advertising management solutions, has appointed media industry veteran Tom Nix as vice president of American operations. In this role, he will be responsible for overseeing the US, Latin America and Oceania regions.

"Tom has significant experience in proactive business development efforts and growing sales," said Robert Koolen, president of Scala. "With his in-depth knowledge of the signage industry and a proven track record, I am confident that Tom will be a significant contributor to Scala's continued growth."

Prior to joining Scala, Nix was vice president and general manager of Dynamax Technologies. During his tenure, Nix was instrumental in growing the North American operations of the UK-based digital signage software developer.

(Jim Evans)

UK - Orbital Sound has announced a series of corporate developments, as the company prepares for the autumn season. Orbital has created three new directorships, evolving its management structure with internal promotions for William Addison as technical director, Tom Byrne as sales director, and Eric Simpson as director of live event & communications.

In June, Orbital achieved ISO 9001 certification, as the culmination of a two-year programme to initiate quality management systems throughout the organisation. Thirdly, Orbital is cementing its focus on the wider European sound rental market with the opening of a European support office this autumn.

MD Chris Headlam comments, "Orbital has earned a reputation for being a genuinely dynamic live sound company, and that involves never standing still and watching the grass grow! We have a fantastic team of people - nearly 40 at t

USA - Harman Professional has announced the appointment of Mark Ureda as vice president and general manager of the Harman Professional Loudspeaker Group, comprising JBL Professional and Selenium. Effective immediately, Ureda takes over from John Carpanini, who led JBL Professional and was promoted to a new position in Harman's automotive division.

Blake Augsburger, Harman Professional CEO comments, "What makes Mark ideal for this position is his broad understanding of the values, heritage and potential of both JBL Professional and Selenium. We are very pleased that he has elected to take this position and I am confident that his leadership will serve as a platform for a host of innovations and the delivery of the quality and performance that our customers demand."

Ureda joins Harman Professional with a background in acoustics and management. He began his career with

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