Changes at White Light as Crossman departs

UK - White Light's long-serving hire director Mike Crossman will leave the company on 16 May 2003, after 15 years with the company. During that time he has overseen an increasingly diverse range of hire projects from the smallest school shows to the largest West End and touring productions, currently including Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Contact, My Fair Lady, Miss Saigon and the Olivier-award winning Our House, as well as the company’s move from Fulham to Wimbledon. "I have had a fantastic time through the years at White Light, working with great people in the company and with all of the fantastic people we work with in theatres and on shows," says Crossman. "I will miss all of them and the hustle and bustle of getting shows on, but I feel that it is time for me to get out of the office and explore the world a bit!" To that end, he is leaving White Light to embark on an eighteen-month round-the-world trip - promising to forward any requests for lighting he meets along the way straight back to the Wimbledon office!

"Mike has made a tremendous contribution to White Light's growth in recent years," comments White Light's managing director, John Simpson. "We - and our customers - will miss his easy-going manner and unflappability even when faced with the most complex projects or tightest deadlines. We wish him well on his travels."

His departure will lead to some re-organisation at White Light, with general manager Bryan Raven resuming day-to-day control of White Light Hire in addition to his other duties within the White Light Group. The other familiar names in White Light Hire, including Phil Gladman, Jane Townsend, Jonathan Wilson and Matt Holliday, all remain.

However, the Hire team is also being expanded with three new appointments. Jed Hamilton, formerly of Midnight Design and PSL, has already joined White Light as a member of the front-line Hire team, while David Baum, ex-Mountview and Shaw Theatre, will now be working in Business Development for White Light Hire. They will shortly be joined by Jon Coventry, formerly a partner in CAP Productions. Coventry will be overseeing the increasing range of 'wet' hire projects for which White Light supply both equipment and production services, such as the recent Nokia event at the London Eye which he oversaw for White Light.

"Hopefully the combination of our familiar, experienced staff and the new skills and points-of-view brought in by these latest recruits will mean that our familiar high standard of service will improve still further even as we adapt to not having Mike around!" comments John Simpson.

To coincide with Crossman's departure, White Light will be holding an open day at their Wimbledon headquarters on Thursday 15 May, to allow visitors both to wish Crossman well on his travels, and to meet the new members of both the Hire and Sales teams. White Light's full range of hire and sales products will also be on show. Full details of the Open Day, which will run from 2pm to 8pm, are available by contacting White Light on 020 8254 4800 or at the website address below.

(Lee Baldock)

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