Riedel Announces New Executive Roles in Asia-Pacific, Australia, and Spain

Riedel Communications, provider of pioneering real-time video, audio, data, and communications networks, has announced series of executive appointments in recent weeks, including Cameron O’Neill as director for the Asia-Pacific region; Ian Hamilton as general manager for Riedel Australia and Julian (“Jules”) Hewitt as technical operations manager for Riedel Australia; and Maribel Roman to the role of sales manager for Spain.

Cameron O’Neill Named Director for Asia-Pacific Region
Riedel Communications has appointed Cameron O’Neill as the company’s director for the Asia-Pacific region. O’Neill will be based in Tokyo, working to build the Riedel presence there into a robust East Asian hub for Riedel design, sales, support, and service.

“In the next five years, we will be ramping up our focus on Asia,” says Thomas Riedel, CEO at Riedel Communications. “Recent additions to our product portfolio make us more competitive in this market, and we’re confident that Cameron can guide our regional operations in leveraging these innovations to take advantage of significant new business opportunities.”

O’Neill served as general manager of Riedel Australia for three years prior to taking on this new role, and he was a professional user of the company’s equipment for the preceding five years. He already has a history working with Riedel’s Japanese distributor, Otaritec, and attending Japan’s largest trade show, Inter BEE. O’Neill also has traveled extensively in Japan and throughout Southeast Asia, and has cultivated a good working knowledge of the Japanese language.

“Tokyo fills out our trio of Asian hubs, which also include Sydney and Singapore, and gives us a strong position from which to cover the Asia-Pacific region in its entirety,” says O’Neill. “I look forward to consolidating our distribution networks across Asia and to supporting both new and existing customers at a much higher level.”

Hamilton, Hewitt Appointed to New Positions at Riedel Australia
Riedel has appointed Ian Hamilton to the role of general manager for Riedel Australia and Julian (“Jules”) Hewitt to the role of technical operations manager for Riedel Australia.

“Ian’s experience providing sophisticated high-performance production and communications solutions is remarkable, to say the least. His work has included numerous projects involving Riedel Australia and extensive complements of Riedel equipment,” says O’Neill. “As both a contractor and end user, Ian has developed a deep understanding of Riedel technology and its potential. With this knowledge and experience, he is very well-qualified to guide Riedel Australia’s continued growth.”

Hamilton has worked with Riedel equipment since it first became available on the Australian market, and he has designed and guided implementation of Riedel solutions in eventwide data, communications, and broadcast networks for many of Australia’s most prestigious and demanding live events and productions.

In stepping into his role as general manager of Riedel Australia, Hamilton replaces O’Neill, who is taking charge of Riedel’s Asia-Pacific operations from the company’s Tokyo office. Prior to taking on this position, Hamilton led his own design and technical production firm. As a freelance contractor, he worked as Riedel’s technical coordinator for the 2013 International Fleet Review, part of the celebrations to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the entry of the first Royal Australian Navy fleet in Sydney Harbour. Earlier, as the technical coordinator for the City of Sydney Council from 2010 to 2012, he was responsible for the technical operational delivery of the Sydney New Year’s Eve fireworks and Sydney Harbour Bridge effects.

Hamilton has overseen numerous live events for government agencies and organizations, and his work for clients in the commercial sector includes production manager roles for dozens of live events, ranging from sports competitions, corporate events, and auto shows to high-profile theater, dance, opera, and rock performances.

As technical operations manager for Riedel Australia, Hewitt will be responsible for the logistics of getting gear and people to the right places at the right times. In addition, he is responsible for making sure that all of the equipment is in the best possible working order, further increasing our reliability in mission-critical applications.

“Like Ian, Jules has worked with Riedel equipment for many years, and his practical experience in deploying our solutions makes him an excellent addition to the growing Riedel Australia family,” added O’Neill. “I am sure he will be valuable in boosting our capacity to meet a growing number of customers’ production needs.”

Hewitt joins Riedel Australia after most recently serving as technical support technician at the Sydney Opera House, a long-time user of Riedel solutions. He earlier was the audio operator for the Bell Shakespeare theatre company. Prior to that, Hewitt provided support for local arts and music festivals, as well as an array of high-profile live news, sports, and entertainment broadcast events.

Maribel Roman To Serve as Sales Manager for Spain
Riedel has appointed Maribel Roman to the role of sales manager for Spain. In this new position, Roman will provide dedicated support with a focus on Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Greece.

“At Riedel we focus on offering exceptional service, and Maribel’s presence in Spain will position us to provide the localized support that is so valuable in making a significant impact on customers,” says Riedel Communications CEO Thomas Riedel. “Being closer to key markets, we can ensure not only that we understand market demands and customer requirements, but also that our solutions effectively address those factors. Mirabel has the experience to help us achieve both of those goals.”

Roman is an international sales manager with more than seven years’ experience in the broadcasting market. She previously worked for Spanish intercom and professional monitor manufacturer KROMA, Spain’s leading developer and manufacturer of professional AV broadcasting equipment. Following the company’s 2014 merger with the well-known Spanish audio company AEQ, she served as an AEQ area sales manager for a variety of European countries.

“Riedel sets the industry standard in providing equipment and services for real-time networks, and I am very happy to be part of this innovative and successful company,” said Roman. “I look forward to working within the company’s dynamic and forward-looking international sales team to drive further opportunity and success.”

Riedel Delivers Tailor-Made Radio Package to Panorama Berlin
In other Riedel Communications news, the company partnered with facility management provider Gegenbauer to provide an elegant and reliable communications package for Panorama Berlin, a leading trade show during Berlin Fashion Week. For the three-day event, Jan. 19-21, the two companies supplied a custom solution with more than 100 mobile radios and 20 headsets supporting security, traffic management, and event organization and access.

“Fashion Week Berlin is considered the summit for the German fashion scene,” says Ralf Strotmeier, head of communications for Panorama Fashion Fair Berlin GmbH. “During such a large event, detailed coordination among the different trades is critical. Without a reliable infrastructure, a smooth event is inconceivable. The TETRA technology provided by Riedel and Gegenbauer, along with technical support and consultation, was instrumental in making the event a complete success.”

Throughout Panorama Berlin, dedicated TETRA radio cells provided the network for digital Motorola radios. Compared with conventional radio solutions, the TETRA-based solution delivered by Riedel and Gegenbauer offered crucial advantages, including excellent audio quality, flexible and extensive group-call possibilities, and seamless transitions across TETRA cells for uninterrupted communications. The simultaneous transfer of data and language and encoding of communication rounded out the robust functionality of the solution.

“Owing to our extensive experience in delivering elegant radio solutions for high-profile live events, we are well-positioned to offer coordinated solutions to organizers of fairs, trade shows, and other large events that demand flexible, reliable communications,” says Marcel Gericke, radio and intercom specialist at Riedel Communications. “It was a pleasure working with Gegenbauer to help make Panorama Berlin a success.”