Two years after its founding at Prolight+Sound 2012, VUE Audiotechnik has set up a European presence. The speaker manufacturer has announced the immediate appointment of Holger de Buhr as managing director of the newly formed VUE Audiotechnik Europa GmbH (VUE Europe).
Headquartered in Berlin, VUE Europe is a service and support organisation for the VUE Audiotechnik brand across Europe. It will provide distributors, dealers and customers with resources that include technical support and service personnel, application engineering, and a demo facility and showroom.
VUE Europe will also assume direct distribution responsibilities for the VUE Audiotechnik brand in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
“Europe is an extremely important market for VUE,” commented CEO Ken Berger. “Even though our focus to date has been primarily on North America, VUE has enjoyed some pretty significant momentum in Europe, thanks in part to a growing network of extremely dedicated distributors.”
Berger continued: “We’ve now reached a tipping point in the US where VUE is perceived as a major player, and our products are being specified into notable projects across the country. We’re ready to bring the same focus to Europe, and we know from experience that building a truly exceptional service and support organisation in the region is critical for the long term success of VUE and our European customers.”
New European managing director Holger de Buhr brings nearly 30 years of industry experience to the role. In addition to serving as CEO of VUE’s German distributor Media Logic, de Buhr has also held strategic leadership positions with the Just Music Group as well as Audio Sonic, where he was responsible for regional distribution of the d&b brand, permanent installation and project business, as well as worldwide service for Neumann Broadcast consoles.
“Despite being quite young, VUE has made a significant impact in Europe, with early installations fuelling a growing reputation for exceptional sound and build quality,” said de Buhr. “In all my years these are the first PA speakers that can easily keep pace sonically with studio monitors. I’m tremendously excited to help the European market learn more about VUE, and to establish a world-class support network to serve the region.”
VUE Europe begins operations immediately, with VUE’s EVP Jim Sides, who has extensive European experience, working directly with de Buhr during the initial ramp-up. Their immediate focus will be expanding support services and technical personnel, increasing regional inventories and fulfilment capabilities, as well as growing VUE’s distribution network to all points in Europe.
