NEWS: APPOINTMENTS
New promotions at dBTech CT expands ME team MIDDLE EAST Creative Technology (CT) Middle East has expanded its team with two new appointments. Lee Forde will become the new general manager of the CT branch in Dubai and Rob Turner will become the networks technical manager. Forde has 33 years of technical and managerial experience across areas in the events industry while holding several senior management positions throughout his career so far. For his new role, Forde will be overseeing the daily operations while assisting Andy Reardon, the managing director of CT Middle East, to enhance and expand the company. ‘It is an exciting time for the Middle East as we continue to grow and expand our
Giovanni Barbieri with Arturo Vicari MEA dBTechnologies has promoted Giovanni Barbieri to the role of general manager in addition to appointing Luca Bocci as sales manager for Africa and the Middle East. Barbieri first joined the Bologna-based pro audio manufacturer in 2009 as its export sales manager, becoming business development manager in 2011 and serving as sales and marketing director since 2012, while Bocci served most recently as the manufacturer’s export sales manager. In the 10 years that Barbieri has been a part of the RCF Group-owned manufacturer, revenue has tripled, as has the worldwide distribution of its products with dBTechnologies solutions now reaching more than 160 countries. Barbieri reflected on how dBTechnologies was a smaller company, both in terms of turnover and workforce, when he joined a decade ago. ‘What we have achieved and will achieve is mainly thanks to the team we have built, which lays the ground for other challenges and further growth,’ he said.
‘For this reason, I am honoured with this new assignment and I would like to thank Mr Vicari and the entire dBTechnologies team. Additionally, Luca’s appointment is part of a bigger strategy in redesigning our export sales’ game plan, and is further evidence of our commitment to enlarge dBTechnologies’ base of users in burgeoning markets.’ As Middle East and Africa sales manager, Bocci will report to head of export sales Flavio Malpighi. ‘When I joined the company I immediately realised the huge potential of dBtechnologies’ product series, especially the touring series VIO,’ commented Bocci. ‘Now I look forward to working closely with an established network of distributors to develop some strategic new partnerships, which for sure will take advantage of the many plus points that our professional audio systems have to offer to both rental companies and audio integrators.’ www.dbtechnologies.com
Nexo appoints STM specialist WORLD
Nexo has appointed Bertrand Billon to the role of engineering support specialist, where he will take responsibility over the company’s line array systems with a particular focus on the STM series. Billon began his engineering career as a PA technician and engineer for Dispatch, which became known as Dushow. This was followed with a role as the head of sound at Stage Entertainment where he gained experience in managing technical and crewing aspects of the events staged in the Mogador Theatre. ‘Coming to Nexo gives me the opportunity to focus once more on PA systems, which was my first occupation and passion,’ said Billon. ‘A great support engineer should be a very good listener, reacting to customer requests and feedback, not only able to fix their problems, but able to avoid them in the first place through proper training and communication.’ www.nexo-sa.com
22 PRO AVL MEA Januar y–Februar y 2020
Bertrand Billon
Rob Turner
team of professionals,’ said Reardon. ‘I am looking forward to working closely with Lee and wish him all the best going forward.’ Turner has joined CT to develop the newly established communications and networking division to deliver communication projects. He has over 24 years of AV experience, 10 of which were within the fields of communications, networks and radio sounds at Delta Sound. Turner added: ‘I am very much looking forward to getting involved in this new project. With the backing of CT, I really think we can bring something new and exciting to the comms/network market.’ Lee Forde
www.ctme.co
GatesAir hires MEA regional sales manager MEA
Graham Lay has been named as the regional sales manager covering the Middle East and Africa at GatesAir. The appointment comes as the manufacturer of wireless, over-theair content delivery solutions continues to strengthen its global presence in the MEA region. Lay is based in Dubai and will report to GatesAir’s EMEA managing director, Andy McClelland. His primary role will be to build the manufacturer’s market share and brand visibility across the Middle East and East Africa. ‘Graham has invested a substantial amount of time and effort in building his customer base, and his knowledge of regional trends and cultures makes him a perfect fit in this new role,’ explained Rich Redmond, president and managing director, international at GatesAir. ‘In the bigger picture, Graham’s appointment represents GatesAir’s continued commitment to strengthening our local and regional teams in every international region, and positioning the company for long-term global success.’ Lay relocated to Dubai in 2015 when he became the MEA business unit leader for IEWC’s Argosy Cable brand. ‘GatesAir has built a reputation for expertly managing high-volume business opportunities and many of the world’s largest digital transition projects,’ Lay commented. ‘Their recent establishment of a new business
Graham Lay
and manufacturing centre in Europe, and aggressive sales and business development expansion, has magnified GatesAir’s presence throughout the EMEA region. I look forward to working with the greater EMEA team to strengthen our brand in the Middle East and eastern Africa. We see enormous opportunity to help broadcasters refresh FM radio infrastructure and drive large, national digital TV and DAB radio transitions that generate new revenue and service opportunities for our customers.’ www.gatesair.com
