Niels Thomas to head Salam Media Cast?s new European HQ

In a move to consolidate its position in the world of integrated broadcasting solutions, Salam Media Cast has opened a new London office that is aimed at enhancing its service offerings to its network of international clients.

Salam Media Cast UK, the first of a number of offices Salam Media Cast (SMC) plans to open in new geographic locations, is to be headed up by Niels Thomas, formerly head of Sales for North Europe at Sony Professional Solutions Europe. Having previously worked for such companies as Omneon, Thomson and Grass Valley, Thomas garnered a wealth of experience in the broadcast and media indsutries. As managing director of Salam Media Cast UK, he will draw upon his extensive contacts and professional reputation to develop new business opportunities and bolster existing customer relationships.

“SMC’s expansion into Europe will enable the company to engage more thoroughly with its international customers by providing much closer cooperation and ensuring tighter control of project timelines and costs,” Thomas said. “SMC has always been a client-focused company and I am looking forward to helping our valued customers achieve their goals and ambitions through a thorough understanding of their objectives so that we can create the best solutions for their needs.”

Based in Doha, Qatar, SMC has more than 35 years’ experience of systems integration in the Gulf region, representing several worldwide manufacturers, including Avid Technology, Quantel, SeaChange, Leitch, Drake Electronics, Vinten Broadcast, Strand Lighting, Telestream, Vizrt and EVS Broadcasting. It also serves TV channels and networks, movie studios and network operators in the region, providing telecommunications, broadcasting, integrated systems and state-of-the-art security.

In 2010, SMC joined GSSG Holdings as part of its Media Group, with offices in Qatar, UAE, Oman, and Saudi Arabia. More recently, the company has been expanding its team via the acquisition of local and international talent and diversifying its activities to reflect the technological changes that are taking place within the broadcast and media industries. This shift in focus is now allowing SMC to enter new markets and develop its business in the multiscreen environment. Meanwhile, the organisation is also introducing new services, such as Salam Media Cast Support, a cost effective service that is designed to help customers deal with their day to day maintenance requirements and simplify the management of multi-vendor hardware and software to ensure that systems operate at peak performance.

“SMC is changing,” said CEO Paul Hennessy. “We are acquiring world class skills and capabilities to provide a genuine distinction amongst our peers in the industry. SMC’s vision is to be the leading international media systems integrator and we are achieving this by building meaningful relationships with our customers that are based on in-depth knowledge of their technical and business requirements.”

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