As of 1 January, PLASA and North American trade body ESTA have been operating together under the PLASA name. A new logo has been introduced, whilst the first phase of the new PLASA website has also gone live.
The combined organisation now has a membership of 1100 businesses, organisations and individuals working across the entertainment, events and installation industries.
The months ahead, says PLASA, will be focused on the ‘further unification’ of the wider range of projects and initiatives now situated beneath the PLASA banner. In the meantime – and in addition to a new PLASA logo and brand identity, and a wealth of new information at the PLASA website – the first meetings of the new member-led European and North American Regional Boards are planned for later this month, while the first assembly of the international Governing Body will take place in March during USITT.
Chairing the new Regional Boards are Rob Lingfield in the EU and Eddie Raymond in North America, while the Governing Body – an amalgamation of the three principal officers of the Regional Boards together with three ‘at large’ members – has elected Mike Wood as chair and Rob Lingfield as vice chair.
In a joint statement, PLASA’s regional chairs, Rob Lingfield and Eddie Raymond, said: “The rationale behind bringing together the respective strengths of PLASA and ESTA has never been in doubt and even in these early stages, the benefits from having a single voice representing the worldwide industry are obvious. We’re confident that the PLASA team, working in partnership with the members, can make the most of this unique opportunity and that PLASA will reinforce its leadership role in the industry, bringing a united approach to the opportunities, issues and challenges that make this industry such a fantastic and dynamic place to work.”
