CEDIA has announced that James and Giles founder Giles Sutton will be joining the CEDIA team as senior vice president of industry engagement, charged with driving member engagement around the world. This will involve facilitating strong partnerships across the industry and helping build awareness of the CEDIA channel among architects, builders and interior designers.

“Giles has an incredibly clear understanding of the CEDIA membership — their needs, challenges, and opportunities for growth — having built his own successful integration business,” says CEDIA president and chief executive Tabatha O’Connor.

“Giles also has a great understanding of working with design and build professionals and can attribute much of his company’s growth to outreach efforts, which will be a huge help to us in executing our strategic plan.”

Giles has spent that past 13 years as James and Giles managing director and prior to this worked for a pro audio installation company designing recording studios and live sound systems. He has served as a CEDIA volunteer in many capacities, including on the CEDIA Board, the Membership Advisory Council, the Designation Task Force, the Governance Committee and the Trailblazers Apprentice Working Group (EMEA). Giles has also held the position of CEDIA treasurer, has been a leader for a CEDIA Group, is a CEDIA Outreach Instructor (COI) and holds the CEDIA Certified Designer (ESC-D) designation.

He has stepped down from the CEDIA Board and has resigned as James and Giles managing director.

“I am incredibly proud of the company I have built; at the same time I find myself ready for a new challenge. Having gone through the strategy process as a member of the CEDIA Board, I feel incredibly confident in the direction of the organisation and the important role this position will play. I am honoured to be joining the CEDIA team and know we will do great work together,” says Giles.

CEDIA chairman Dave Humphries says Giles’ experience makes him well-suited to the new position.

“As a board member, Giles has been dedicated to helping communicate the value of the organisation and the CEDIA channel as a whole, which makes him a wonderful fit for this position.”