Where are you originally from, and where do you reside?
I am a Londoner through and through. I grew up in South-East London which is still where I live now. However, I am spending a lot of time in Backnang, Germany – home of d&b’s HQ – and various other spots on the global d&b map. My suitcase and I have developed a very close, co-dependent relationship!
What do you enjoy doing in your free time? Any favourite sports or hobbies?
I’m a passionate sports fan – I’m a keen tennis and golf player and I love skiing when I get the chance. Being a South Londoner, I’m contractually obliged to be support Crystal Palace, which mostly involves lessons in managing disappointment. Beyond sport, music is a massive passion. I love experiencing live gigs.
How did you get into the AV industry, and what was your journey to your current role?
My path into the AV industry is one of the less conventional routes and only started in earnest late last year! My background is actually rooted in strategy and M&A, starting with several years in M&A advisory at PwC. From there, I moved into the sports and entertainment sector, eventually becoming group CFO at CSM Sport and Entertainment, which was later acquired by large US sports and music promoter Wasserman Group. While my role was finance-led, my focus gravitated towards long-term strategic planning and growth. I joined d&b in October last year as chief strategy officer. In my role, I partner closely with our CEO, Amnon Harman, to define d&b’s long-term strategic direction and oversee our M&A initiatives.
What are your thoughts on the future of the industry, what potential challenges or pinch points do you foresee and how is your company addressing them?
We’re seeing several shifts across the industry, but one that stands out is the growing and continuing importance of sustainability – we have a dedicated sustainability department and several initiatives in place. The live events industry faces unique challenges with fragmented regulations, regional differences and increasing expectations for sustainable practices from a wide array of stakeholders.
Another shift we’ve seen is the increasing consolidation of larger partners, many of whom now operate not just across countries but across continents.
Any exciting news you’d like to share – upcoming projects, tech developments, or plans for 2025 and beyond?
Anyone familiar with d&b knows that we’ve long been obsessed with cardioid technology and directivity, ever since we launched the GSL System in 2018. Our R&D and product management teams have been working hard to extend this technology to cater to a wider range of applications and users. This journey has led us to the CCL System, the compact cardioid line array, which we launched at ISE this year.
We’re also continuing to innovate in the immersive space. Today, it’s all about creating experiences, something we’ve been doing for years with d&b Soundscape. As the importance of spatial audio continues to grow, expanding the Soundscape ecosystem is a key focus for us. This year we’ve already launched our new customisation service – En-Space Custom Rooms – and introduced new, scalable I/O variants for the DS100/DS100M signal engine.
If you had to predict one major shift in the AV industry over the next decade, what would it be?
One major shift I see coming is the widespread adoption of cloud-based solutions, for everything from monitoring and control to asset management and wireless technologies. As AI continues to evolve, we’ll see it integrated more deeply into these solutions, driving the digital transformation of AV.
What’s the most valuable leadership lesson you’ve learned during your career in AV?
It is a lesson that applies more broadly than to just the AV world, but the importance of being genuinely customer-focused and customer-centric. Understanding and anticipating customer needs is fundamental to driving innovation and building lasting relationships. You can have the smartest tech in the world, but if it doesn’t make the customer’s life easier, better, or more exciting – it’s ‘just’ technically impressive hardware that lacks a real purpose.
What advice would you give to someone looking to build a successful career in pro AV?
Stay curious and get practical, hands-on experience. Pro AV demands a blend of technical know-how and creative problem-solving. Second, and just as crucial: be present. Show up for the gigs, the site visits, or to the office! There’s no substitute for being in the room when it happens.
