In Brief

• Kent Rahn has been appointed Senior Communications Manager for the EAW & EAW Commercial brands. In this role, Rahn will be responsible for the development of marketing communications strategies for EAW and EAW Commercial products worldwide. Ken Berger, Sr. Vice President of Marketing at LOUD Technologies, commented,"We conducted a very thorough search for an individual with just the right mix of pro-touring and commercial sound product experience. Kent was the perfect fit, bringing to LOUD the specific product understanding we were looking for as well as more than 20 years of strategic communication experience. We couldn't be happier that he has decided to join us here at LOUD."
   
• Affirming its commitment to the ongoing development of the EAW Commercial brand, LOUD Technologies have announced the appointment of Bob Harrison to the position of EAW Commercial Sales Manager for the EMEA region and John Bosaw to the position of Market Liaison, EAW Commercial. Harrison will act as the primary contact for all EAW Commercial distributors throughout Europe and will be responsible for spearheading EAW Commercial sales throughout the EMEA region. In the newly created position of Market Liaison for EAW Commercial, John Bosaw will serve as the lead 'voice' for the EAW Commercial brand. This will include driving the worldwide rollout of EAW Commercial products by serving as the key link between LOUD Technologies' product, sales and marketing communications teams and the EAW Commercial distribution channel.
  www.eaw.com
   
• Celestion have announced Nigel Wood as the company's newly appointed Professional Products General Manager. "Nigel's extensive experience in an OEM-based engineering environment makes him exceptionally qualified," commented CEO Frank DiGirolamo. "This appointment underscores Celestion's commitment to grow further our market share in the Professional Audio and Music Industry sectors."
  www.celestion.com
   
• Fresh from the Athens Olympic Games' Telmaco production team, Vangelis Ziakas has joined lighting manufacturer High End Systems Inc. as the new Southern European Sales Manager. Ziakas has eight years of involvement in the light and sound industry. For the last three of those years, he was product manager of High End Systems equipment for Telmaco S.A. in Greece. Based in Athens, Ziakas' territory includes Greece, Turkey, Italy, Serbia, Monaco and more. High End Systems' Tony Magana is handing over this territory to Ziakas. Magana will work out of the HES Europe office in London until November to ensure customers get a smooth transition and plenty of attention. Magana will then return to Austin, TX to continue working with his customers in Latin America.
   
• Fons de Vreede has been promoted to a new role as High End Systems European Sales Director. Based in Utrecht, Netherlands, de Vreede joined the company last August as Sales Manager for Central Europe. HES CEO Frank Gordon comments: "Fons will work closely with Bill Morris, VP Americas Sales, in providing the visibility and attention demanded by our worldwide customer base." Meanwhile, David Linger, former Sales Director for MAD Lighting and Sales Manager for Robe UK, has moved to High End Systems Europe as the new UK Sales Director. Linger's territory consists of the UK, Ireland, Scandinavia and the Baltics. Sean Hoey has also returned to the company as Sales Manager with a territory encompassing Southeastern U.S.
  www.highend.com
   
• DTS has announced the opening of its newest global office in Hong Kong, which will coordinate DTS' activities in the Asia-Pacific region. The company has hired Kin Chan as Director, Business Development, Greater China to oversee operations from Hong Kong and focus on business development in the Greater China area, including China, Taiwan and Australia. Ê
  www.dtsonline.com
   
• Allen & Heath has recently appointed three new distributors to its worldwide network of resellers. In Romania, Senia Company 999 Ltd. will now exclusively manage sales of the manufacturer's portfolio of professional audio mixers, while Lexon S.A. and Tech Top Ltd. have taken over responsibility for the brand in Spain and Israel, respectively.
  www.allen-heath.com
   
• d&b audiotechnik have confirmed the inception of a new office serving the Scandanavian region. Jette Lykke Pedersen and Lars Frederiksen, who have been with d&b working in the Scandinavian market since 1996 and 2003 respectively will head up the new facility which is to be based in Aarhus, Denmark. Tel: +45 8736 2400
  www.dbaudio.com

• Ian Brown has joined Robe UK as Sales and Marketing Manager, where he will be working alongside namesake MD Ian Brown and the rest of the Robe UK team. Bringing a wealth of experience and industry knowledge in the moving light field to the Robe UK equation, Brown's past work includes extensive periods at both Martin and High End. The two Ian Browns are very much looking forward to working together: "Having two Ian Brown's onboard has the distinct advantage of making it easier for people to remember the contact name" states Robe UK's MD Ian Brown, adding, "It's great to have Ian onboard, his enthusiasm, tenacity and skills fit perfectly into our future plans." The Robe UK sales force has been further boosted with the addition of Bill Jones who joins as Pro Sales Manager. Jones will be based 'on-the-road' and brings a wealth of sales skills and experience to the equation.
  www.robe.cz
   
• The Effects Company, UK manufacturer of a range of Special Effects products has announced an agreement with JIREH Supplies of Lawrenceville, Georgia to distribute their range of products throughout the USA. JIREH are an established company who will carry a good stock inventory of the complete range of Effects Co. products, and will be promoting to their existing and new customers, in conjunction with their manufacturers representatives. Effects Co. MD Martin Blake said: "We have always sold directly to the end user or 'trade installer' in the USA but many enquiries 'go dead' when they cannot purchase directly in the USA. Now customers can purchase from JIREH Supplies knowing their requirements can be shipped immediately from stock and have the full back-up and service of a reputable company."
  www.effectsco.com
   
• Digigram has announced that US based Jimmy Kawalek has been hired as worldwide Business Development Manager for the licensing program of Digigram's patented EtherSound technology. "There are few people in the world that have as much knowledge and market insight in professional networked audio as Jimmy has," said Philippe Delacroix, Digigram MD. "He knows exactly what pro audio manufacturers need to efficiently implement audio networking and remote control capabilities into their products, and he has a proven track record of creating long-term business relations, which are beneficial for all parties."
  www.digigram.com
   
• In a move guaranteed to ignite the distribution, and raise consumer awareness of DiGiCo in Australia, Group Technologies (GT) has been appointed sole distributors of DiGiCo's Digital Live Consoles, including the new D1-Live and the internationally acclaimed D5-Live Series. September's PLASA show in the UK provided the backdrop for Melbourne-based Group Technologies' signing with DiGiCo UK. Managing Director of DiGiCo, Bob Doyle, was also in attendance to wish the GT team all the best. "Securing DiGiCo's distribution in Australia is a milestone for our company, and great news for the Australian audio industry" said GTs representative, Adam Iuston. "It is just incredible timing for us as DiGiCo release the new D1-Live system, which we believe to be well-suited to the Australian market."
  www.digiconsoles.com
   
• Midas-Klark Teknik have appointed Pride Music Ltd. as the new distributors of Midas and Klark Teknik products in Brazil. Based in Sao Paulo, Pride Music is Brazil's largest distributor for professional audio, lighting and MI products and already carries a number of internationally renowned brands. President of Pride Music, Lucio Grossman comments: "We are delighted to be distributing Midas and Klark Teknik in Brazil. They are the perfect complement to our existing portfolio as we only distribute high quality products, and both brands are recognised throughout Brazil, and indeed worldwide, as being the very best within their market segments."
  www.klarkteknik.com
   
• Phonic has named Scott Emmerman Executive Vice President of Phonic America Corporation. He will head up the company's Tampa operation, and grow domestic sales.Ê
  www.phonic.com
   
• Martin Professional have expanded their US sales force with the introduction of Scott O'Connor, Darrell Barnes and Jennifer Campbell as Field Sales Representatives with a primary focus on retail/MI supply stores.
  www.martin.com
   
• ChainMaster has reinforced its Russian team with the recruitment of Viacheslav Serdyukov to handle the support for ChainMaster equipment in Russia. Viacheslav Serdyukov joins ChainMaster from the Russian company Pro Sound Lab, where he has been working since 1994 as a sound contractor and system integrator on a variety of projects including the modernisation of the stage equipment in the Kremlin. For ChainMaster, Viacheslav Serdyukov's responsibilities will include product and project guidance as well as after sales service in Russia.
  www.chainmaster.de
   
• John Hickinbotham has returned to UK-based James Thomas Engineering as Client Liaison co-ordinator. The move is part of the company's current management restructuring, and follows the departure of Mervyn Thomas.
  www.jamesthomas.co.uk
   
• ARX Systems, the Australian based Pro Audio manufacturer, has announced the appointment of Audio Logic Ltd as their new U.K distributor. Audio Logic Ltd was recently formed as a wholesale and distribution company to service the needs of clients in the installation, audio visual, broadcast and sound reinforcement markets. ARX MD Colin Park says: "We welcome Audio Logic's Simon Stoll and Matthew Boland to the ARX European Distribution Network. Both Matt and Simon were previously with Raper and Wayman, who distributed ARX for many years until its recent demise.
  www.arx.com.au
   
• ASC has been appointed the new distributor for MC2 amplifiers in Belgium. Say ASC: "We chose MC2 because it has an excellent reputation. We know designer Terry Clarke's reputation very well and after putting them to the test and meeting with Ian McCarthy we decided that this was the route we wanted to take. MC2 is a small company with great people and top quality products. We're particularly pleased with the new E Series' quality, performance and the way it looks. We're convinced MC2 will perfectly fit our philosophy and our portfolio."
  www.mc2-audio.co.uk
   
• G-LEC has announced the appointment of TMB as its exclusive Sales Partner for G-LEC products in North America. Lars Wolf, MD of G-LEC, commented: "I am really happy to be working with TMB. They have enormous energy and a great sense of commitment to their customers. It is a perfect fit."
  www.tmb.com
   
• Iwasaki has strengthened its UK operation with two new management appointments at Eye Lighting Europe. John Gorse has been appointed as General Manager to head the operation, and Yoshi Kubota is Sales Manager. John and Yoshi both have extensive experience of the lighting industry, including previous tenures at Eye Lighting Europe. The two new managers are both based at the company's UK HQ in Uxbridge, London.
  www.iwasaki.co.uk
   
• LOUD Technologies have appointed Impact Evénement as the new distributors of the EAW and EAW Commercial brands in France with immediate effect. EAW's European sales manager, Sean Martin says: "From our perspective, Impact's set-up and structure is superb with imposing premises on the outskirts of Paris. Their distribution expertise is already second to none, and their audio expertise is guaranteed with the appointment of ex-EAW representative Bruno Ghidionesco to the Impact team."
  www.loudtechinc.com