Pro audio industry veteran Rik Kirby (pictured) announces the formation of Allied SMD, a new sales, marketing and distribution company based in Orange County, Calif. Allied SMD will exhibit at InfoComm 2016 in Las Vegas with its inaugural client, UK-based amplifier and DSP specialist Linea Research, in booth C12518.
“Our aim is to make the U.S. market accessible to international brands who might otherwise struggle for focus within the larger manufacturer-led distribution companies,” Kirby says. “We offer resources that can provide sales management, marketing support and traditional distribution solutions depending on the client’s needs, and the global expertise to explain the U.S. business to those less familiar with its mechanics.”
Prior to embarking on this new venture Kirby has held senior positions with Turbosound, BSS Audio, and most recently as Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Renkus-Heinz. He held these positions with manufacturers following a number of years as a touring sound engineer in the UK.
“It’s been 20 years since I last ran my own business and a lot’s changed since then, but the core fundamentals are still the same: deliver a good product, give excellent customer service, and there’s no avoiding hard work,” Kirby says.
Visit Allied SMD at www.alliedsmd.com.
