Phil Mercer joins XL Video’s proactive project management team and will be concentrating on the application of video in live music and theatre, and on the rapidly continuing creative fusion of lighting and video media and technologies. Having spent the previous four years working for High End Systems UK, Mercer first became involved in video via their Catalyst product. XL Video was one of the first UK rental operations to invest in Catalyst digital media servers and their DL1 moving projection heads.
Mercer’s experience in overseeing large Catalyst shows includes working on the last three Eurovision Song Contests and Peter Gabriel’s recent tour. "It’s hugely exciting to be working with the UK’s leading live video company," he states. "I’m looking forward to working with a growing number of lighting designers who are also now designing and running video as an integral imaginative element of their shows."
XL Video’s Lee Spencer says, "Getting Phil on board will strengthen the support we can offer to this fast developing area of business. It further underlines the growing diversity of XL expertise and our commitment to being at the leading edge of the technologies."
In other news, XL Video UK expands the corporate side of its live video operations with the addition of two new account managers – Phil Goddard and Greg Rice. The appointments reflect a definite growth and new confidence in this sector.
Phil Goddard brings 29 years of experience in the AV business to the company. Recently, he’s worked with some of the leading rental companies in the market, and before then was an event manager for major corporate financial institution Coopers & Lybrand (now PricewaterhouseCoopers), handling all their events worldwide.
Greg Rice joins XL Video, having worked for Blitz Vision and Stagestruck technically project managing many of their corporate events. Immediately before joining XL Video, he was freelancing and is already familiar with many of the XL management team and crew. He’s looking forward to helping to develop the busy corporate events side of XL’s business.