Gail Chiasson, North American Editor
Damon Crowhurst, EMEA vice-president at Scala, will join Samsung July 1, 2015, as European Business Development Director.
“I’ve been at Scala for the past six years and gained a lot of experience,” says Crowhurst. “But I’ve always worked on the software business. Prior to Scala I had Inspired Signage, my own software business that was bought by AMX. My ambition now is to gain more experience with a multinational technology company.
“I was not actively looking to leave Scala but recently found myself having a great conversation with Samsung about the continued innovation and responsibility required to help drive our market forward to the benefit of all the suppliers in this sector. So I’ve agreed to take on my new role as European Business Development Director within the displays division, based out of Chertsey in the UK.”
Crowhurst told me that he’s also been doing a lot of traveling with Scala four days out of five, and, he says, “I have three children aged three, five and seven, plus a very patient wife. I expect to be able to spend more time with my family now.”
He says that he thinks it’s a very interesting time to move. The industry is more mature and heading in an interesting direction. There is massive sophistication of the people involved now. Companies can’t get away with BS anymore. Agencies like WPP are seeing digital signage as a rich valued media.
He says that he’s looking forward to seeing the industry grow exponentially in 2015 and 2016, “through all the great people that are helping to push the boundaries, and striving to improve the quality and sophistication required to increase Digital Signage’s relevance to the retailer, within their marketing mix.
“I feel it is time to test myself and my skills in a new environment. Being a fantastically successful global technology company, Samsung gives me such an opportunity. The nature of the role will mean continuing to work closely with Scala as a key technology partner, building on the significant successes we have had together to date on projects such as Norsk Tipping in Norway, Sky in the UK and Ikea in Switzerland for example.”
He told me that part of his responsibilities will be to bring the individual companies in Europe closer to the head office in London.
“Having watched, and been a part of seeing Scala grow over 20% year on year for the past two years under Tom Nix’s leadership, and only recently having seen Scala EXP brought to market to complement the Enterprise product, I am saddened to be leaving at this time of such innovation and success, but the opportunity to test myself with a new challenge was too enticing not to take on for a crusty South African.”
Crowhurst says that he’ll no doubt miss the dynamic and fast paced environment that Scala affords an employee, but leaves confident in the knowledge that the EMEA team is filled with great talent, and that the innovation that Tom Nix, Scala CEO, is driving, is the right strategy for future success.
Nix told us, ”Crowhurst is very talented and I’m sorry to see him leave, but he met his own personal and professional goals. However, Samsung is a global hardware partner of ours, so we will hopefully have a great opportunity to collaborate with him in his new role. This was totally his decision to make the move, but it’s a bittersweet parting for us.”
Crowhurst promised Scala a three-month notice, which accounts for his only joining Samsung in his new position in July 1. Nix hopes to name his replacement in May.
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