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Yamaha Commercial Audio Expands Support Team as Business Shows Strong Growth

Despite global economic concerns, Yamaha Commercial Audio's digital audio consoles and DME series digital mixing engines are spearheading a period of continuing growth for the company. With many audio installation and rental companies having to tighten belts, they need to ensure that every last penny of value is wrung from any investment they make. This has meant that the flexibility and reliability of Yamaha's digital audio solutions are in even greater demand and, as a result, the company has expanded its UK support team to provide the best possible service to clients and end users.

A familiar face to many Yamaha Commercial Audio clients in the southern half of the UK, Nick ‘Biggles' Pemberton has been promoted to the newly-created post of digital systems manager. Covering the UK and Ireland, this key new role will see Nick working closely with end users, installation and rental companies, spearheading product knowledge, technical support and training on all digital mixers, networking and control systems.

As well as working at Yamaha, Nick has spent 12 years as a freelance sound engineer, which has given him considerable ‘front line' experience in what end users really need and how Yamaha digital products can deliver those solutions.

"There will be many new opportunities for Yamaha digital audio products in the touring, fixed installation, theatre, broadcast, post production and studio markets," says Nick. "My role is to work closely with people in all of those industries, to support their digital audio installations and to help both existing and new customers to become more efficient and flexible by working with them on further Yamaha systems."

Meanwhile, stepping into Nick's recently-vacated shoes is Richard McLean, who has been promoted to regional manager - southern UK. After five years in Yamaha's Commercial Audio Sales Support team, Richard's well-deserved promotion will see him managing all Commercial Audio accounts in the southern half of the UK, providing technical support to dealers and end users, as well as conducting regular training sessions on all Yamaha digital consoles.

"My five years with Commercial Audio support has provided an excellent level of product knowledge, both of Yamaha's digital audio products and those - like our loudspeaker and amplifier ranges - which they regularly work with," says Richard.

"It has been a great basis for my new role and I look forward to building close, productive relationships with all our customers in the southern UK."

Finally, coming to Yamaha Commercial Audio for the first time is Ben Ambrose. Joining from three years in Yamaha's Central Sales Support department, Ben's new role will be to act as a central point of contact for all Commercial Audio dealers and supporting CA sales staff.

"This is a new and very exciting challenge for me," he says. "My previous role encompassed Yamaha's digital audio technology in the musical instrument and other markets, so it is a tremendous opportunity to transfer those skills and help our Commercial Audio customers in this highly successful area of Yamaha's business."

"Yamaha digital mixing consoles have consistently been at the forefront of audio systems for over two decades," adds Nick Pemberton. "Our strength is not only in the products but, most importantly, the investment in people who support our customers and end users, those who are using the products every day and in every corner of the industry.

"With these personnel changes, we can continue to improve our service levels, matching the unsurpassed flexibility and reliability of Yamaha digital audio products."

In picture: Richard McLean, Nick Pemberton and Ben Ambrose.

David March Named Divisional Director of PRG Distribution

Production Resource Group UK (PRG) has announced that David March (pictured) will be starting the role of Director of PRG Distribution from July 1st.

David has substantial experience in the entertainment lighting industry, starting with a 12-year period with Vari?lite, up to 1999. David has also worked for High End Systems and most recently as managing director of digital and LED lighting sales company, Projected Image Digital.

Production Resource Group UK's CEO, Martin Locket, said: "David brings considerable skills and experience to lead the team at PRG Distribution. He will be developing and expanding the opportunities for the business as we build on the success of the brands we sell."

PRG Distribution are the European master distributor for Vari*Lite automated lighting fixtures. PRG also distribute products by, Lycian, Pathway and Seachanger amongst other brands.

David will be based at PRG's West London location, the Hoover building, alongside the existing team of PRG Distribution sales managers Matt Hallard, Alia Ayoubi and Riku Kauppinen.

Stephen Craggs Head of Business Development & Marketing for PRG UK

Production Resource Group UK (PRG) has announced that Stephen Craggs (pictured) has been appointed head of group business development and marketing.

Stephen was previously sales director at Essential Lighting, working within the corporate, exhibition, live event and hospitality sectors. Essential, a PRG company, provide the highest quality lighting equipment, digital media and visualisation services. Essentials' three divisions serve the production industry, lighting designers and other lighting companies through a dedicated Dry Hire team.

Martin Locket, PRG UK's CEO commented: "Stephen's appointment demonstrates our commitment to further growing our businesses as well as supporting our customers throughout the process of winning and delivering events."

Commenting on his new role, Stephen said: "I am delighted to be building a team that will support project managers and customers across our group. We work in diverse, exciting market sectors, within which we set the bar for quality, innovation and service - I'm looking forward to introducing that wining combination to new customers."

The new Business Development & Marketing Team will be working across the group's UK brands: PRG Lighting, Essential Lighting, Summit Steel and PRG Distribution.

New Customer Care Coordinators at Martin Professional A/S

In Martin Professional's continuing mission to offer the lighting industry's best customer service, the company has strengthened its Customer Care department with three new appointments: Adela Güven, Marianne Kirk and Pernille Rosenkilde.

Located at Martin's headquarter office in Aarhus, Denmark, the new Customer Care Coordinators' primary responsibility will be all manner of customer service, as well as to implement Martin's new e-commerce platform, Martin E-Shop.

Adela Güven comes to Martin from a similar position at TC Electronic; Marianne Kirk joins the company from a position as Key Account Manager at Lind Furniture International; and Pernille Rosenkilde joins Martin from a similar position at Kvik Køkkener (Kitchens).

In picture: Adela Güven, Marianne Kirk and Pernitie Rosenkilde

Martin Lubach Appointed Managing Director of Essential Lighting

Essential Lighting has announced that Martin Lubach has been appointed as their new managing director.

With more than 12 years of experience at Essential and unparalleled knowledge of their equipment, technology and processes, Martin Lubach, previously Essential's technical director, steps into the role of managing director with immediate effect.

Part of Production Resource Group, Essential Lighting works within the corporate, exhibition, live event and hospitality sectors, providing the highest quality lighting and Scenic LED equipment, digital media and visualisation services. The company has three divisions serving the production industry and lighting designers as well as other lighting companies through a dedicated dry hire team.

As part of the restructuring of Production Resource Group UK's management earlier this year, Martin Locket moved from his role as managing director of Essential to become group CEO. He commented: "Martin Lubach has been instrumental to the way that Essential Lighting has developed over the past 12 years and will provide a strong focus as a leader for the Essential team and its customers."

Commenting on his new role, Martin Lubach said: "I am delighted to be representing Essential Lighting, a business that I am passionate about and that holds an outstanding reputation for quality. Working alongside our talented team, I am committed to continue offering the newest technology and highest quality equipment that has helped build our reputation."

In picture:Martin Locket (PRG UK CEO), Jere Harris (PRG chairman), Martin Lubach and Kevin Baxley (PRG President).

Steve Reynolds Rejoins Showsec

Steve Reynolds has re-joined Showsec in the new role of special projects manager after a year long world tour.

The company's former London office manager said: "I'm delighted and proud to be rejoining this team, who are quite simply the best when it comes to event security. I hope that I can add my own experience and vision to the management team and help drive the company towards further expansion and improvement across the event security industry."

Steve, now based at Showsec's Manchester office, will assist all 10 regional offices with the preparation, planning and operational delivery of large events and festivals. His knowledge will be put to work in co-developing the operational and training programmes for Showsec Academy Associates.

Starting at Download Festival this June Steve will help co-ordinate a full security operation for 700 Showsec staff. He has also been confirmed as the head of security at Bestival and will work on other festivals this summer including Hyde Park's events, Lowlands, Camp Bestival and Creamfields.

Steve has vast experience in his former role with Showsec managing security operations at venues such as Earls Court, Wembley Arena and Hammersmith Apollo, and events including the Hyde Park Summer events and the Brit Awards.

ABTT Honorary Memberships for Brian Croft and John Simpson

The Association of Lighting Designers (ALD) presented two new Honorary Memberships at the ABTT Theatre Show to Brian Croft and John Simpson. This category of membership is to recognise individuals who have supported the work of Lighting Designers and the ALD state that no two individuals could better represent service to the lighting industry and designers more than Brian and John.

Brian's career took him from Stage Management at the RSC in its early days in Stratford into the world of Rock music presentation with the forerunners of Vari-Lite and PRG through which he supplied lighting to countless tours and shows around the globe. He continues to be active in the industry even in retirement and is on the board of the National Youth Theatre.

John Simpson is one of the founders of White Light and he has helped to fashion this company into a leader in supply, service, rental and training across all aspects of the lighting world. He too is very active in other areas within the industry, serving as a trustee of Light Relief and on the board of the Motley theatre design course.

The ALD welcomed the chance to celebrate the extraordinary careers of John and Brian by presenting them with plaques at the ABTT awards ceremony in London on the 10 of June.

In picture: John Simpson (left) and Brian Croft (right) with ALD chairman Rick Fisher. (Rick had just returned from New York where he won a Tony Award for his lighting design for the Broadway production of Billy Elliot).

Community Appoints John Dodson for Middle East

Community Professional Loudspeakers has announced the appointment of John Dodson to represent its sales and business development throughout the Middle East region, including Bahrain, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Based in Dubai, Dodson was previously with Bose for 23 years. His positions included UK business development manager and national sales manager before he relocated to Dubai to direct Middle East and Africa sales operations 15 years ago.

"I am really pleased to be representing Community," commented Dodson. "They have an unequalled product range for all-weather applications on any scale, and great products across all areas of the installation sector. With some very high profile projects in the Middle East already, the sales potential for the brand is substantial, and I'm looking forward to advancing Community's success in the region. Their product development and technical support is outstanding and I really enjoy their personal approach to people and business in this increasingly corporate world."

The appointment was supported by Community's founder and president Bruce Howze. "We are all very happy to welcome John to the team. He has a great attitude towards business development and customer relationships and his in-depth knowledge of the people, markets and applications are exactly right for the position."

Community VP John Wiggins also commented: "Having John living in the region will greatly strengthen our support for customers and consultants and we're looking forward to working with him. Community is greatly committed to growing our market share in the Middle East."

In picture: Bruce Howze (founder and president, Community), John Dodson and John Wiggins (vice president, Community)

Tim Routledge Wins BAFTA Award

Lighting designer Tim Routledge of Blue Lens has won a BAFTA Wales Award (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) for Best Lighting Director. The Award was presented at the BAFTA Wales Awards 2009 held at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff Bay.

Routledge won the Award for "Grand Slam", a two-hour "as live" concert at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff celebrating Wales winning the Six Nations Grand Slam rugby trophy last year. It was headlined by the Stereophonics and also featured performances by Feeder, Rhydian Roberts and Heather Small, plus interviews and Ruth Jones from Gavin and Stacey.

Routledge's challenges on the job included lighting a stadium sized show on a studio budget in a very short time - for which he used a combination of ingenuity, lateral thinking and classic lighting skills! "I was really pleased with the results" he comments, adding that he was "Absolutely delighted" to get the Award.

Routledge worked alongside the show's director Emyr Afan, production manager Sarah Cole and programmer Alex Passmore, and all lighting equipment was supplied by Bristol-based Utopium.

He now intends to build on this achievement and move forward with his creative ideas and his lighting design career.

Tim Routledge wears two hats - as a lighting designer and also as an experienced lighting programmer for other LDs. Last year's credits included programming lighting for the London 2012 Handover segment of the Closing Ceremony of the Beijing Olympics.

He is a founding partner of grandPA - the UKs first programming house for the MA Lighting grandMA control platform - supplying consoles, expertise, training and programmers to the industry and a wide variety of projects.

Tim splits his time working in live events, music, broadcast, TV and theatre environments and enjoys the eclectic creative and technical challenges of lighting all of these genres, bringing his collective knowledge into the different environments.

Donmar Warehouse team and Opera North Stage Manager Triumph at this year's National Awards for Stage Management

At a packed ceremony during the ABTT Theatre Show at the Royal Horticultural Halls on Wednesday 10th June, Michael Grandage, artistic director of the Donmar Warehouse, ended up presenting one of the awards to his own team, whose nomination by executive producer James Bierman he'd strongly supported.

The team for the four shows the Donmar Warehouse has been presenting in the West End, at the Wyndham's, were commended by, amongst others, actor Kenneth Branagh who starred in Ivanov, as well as Michael Grandage himself who wrote that ‘All of us at the Donmar would work with every one of these individuals again - in a heartbeat. They have re-defined a level of stage managerial dedication that gives the theatre a good name. The veteran theatre director, Peter Gill, once said that if a British stage management team was put in charge of the railway system, every train would run on time. He's right - and this team could run the country, never mind the railway system.'

The highly sought after Stage Manager of the Year Award this year went to Kate Davy, stage manager for Opera North, whose nomination received extremely strong support from across the entire organisation, including all technical departments, performers, singers, chorus, director Richard Jones, as well as music director Richard Farnes.

She beat Jo Miles, veteran West End stage manager, currently on Priscilla - Queen of the Desert; Nick Hayman, deputy stage manager of the Queen's Theatre in Hornchurch, nominated by artistic director Bob Carlton, himself a former stage manager; Tracey Booth, a young assistant stage manager from Clwyd Theatr Cymru, specially commended by artistic director Terry Hands in a personal letter to the selection panel; as well as nominees from the Maddermarket in Norwich, Shrewsbury Music Hall panto, Tamasha's Wuthering Heights and Dominic Phillips of Forest Forge Theatre Company who won the award once before, in 2004.

Michael Grandage spoke of the special contribution that stage managers made to the success of a production, and how they are artists, not technicians, the best of whom can be a valuable sounding board for a director, sharing and contributing to a vision in the way they call a show and manage the performance. He emphasised, therefore, how very honoured he was to be able to present these awards this year.

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