AVIXA has announced that Sarah Joyce will become the association’s next chief global officer, taking over from Terry Friesenborg, who will retire at the end of the year.

Sarah comes to AVIXA after nearly 12 years at Electrosonic, most recently as managing director. She and Terry will manage jointly AVIXA’s global operations for the remainder of 2019 to ensure a smooth transition.

“I am delighted to be joining AVIXA,” Sarah says.

“I have long admired how the association has evolved and developed over the years, particularly in its expansion of member services and international growth. Around the world, the AV industry comprises many types of organisations delivering a variety of solutions and services – we are a broad and powerful community. I look forward to working with AVIXA’s talented staff and global partners to help our industry harness innovation, further encourage diversity and grow the market for AV experiences and the people who create them.”

In her position as AVIXA chief global officer, Sarah will oversee all the association’s activities outside North America, including member services, education and certification delivery, standards adoption, government relations and expositions. In addition, she will sit on the boards of Integrated Systems Events, InfoCommAsia and TecnoMultimedia InfoComm, as well as other regional operating units.

Sarah served on the AVIXA Board of Directors from 2013 to 2015. She organised the inaugural Women of InfoComm Network Breakfast at Integrated Systems Europe in 2015, helping establish the successful AVIXA Women’s Council, which now supports more than 32 groups around the world.

“Sarah has been part of the AV industry for 20 years,” says AVIXA chief executive David Labuskes, CTS, CAE, RCDD.

“I’ve seen first-hand her passion for the industry we serve, her leadership experience on a global stage, and her direct knowledge of our many constituencies, from manufacturers, to integrators and distributors, to end users. We are incredibly fortunate to have Sarah joining us as chief global officer and leading our continued global expansion.”

Sarah assumes her position 6 May. She will be based near London.