Paul Firth
Paul Firth, Head of European Buying, LOVEFiLM
Joe McNicholas
Joe started his retail career with Our Price Music in 1985. After a period as Regional Manager developing the store base from 70 to 330 stores he joined Virgin Megastores as Games Category Manager in 1994. He rose to Product Controller for Virgin Europe before becoming Head of Product for Virgin Megastores UK Ltd where he successfully launched new entertainment formats into the market including Sony Playstation and DVD. Joe left Virgin in 2005 to take up the role of Product Director at ChoicesUK and subsequently joined the Webb Group as Commercial Director in September 2007 following its successful acquisition of the Choices business.
Hans Breukhoven
Hans J.A. Breukhoven was born in Rotterdam in 1946. His first job after finishing his advanced elementary education was steward at the Holland-Amerika line (cruise-line).
He bought records in the USA and sold them in The Netherlands. These extra earnings motivated him to start his own record shop in Schiedam (NL) in October 1971. Here he sold the records below the passable prices. That’s how the name Free Record Shop was born.
Today, Free Record Shop is a company with over 350 shops and companies in the Benelux and has a yearly turnover of €400 million.
The current activities include buying and selling audio and video materials, computer software and hardware, games and mobile pre-paid telephone via the shops of the subsidiary companies.
In 2001 Hans Breukhoven was elected as ‘Retailer of the Year”.
After more than 12 years being quoted on the stock exchange, Hans bought his shares back from the stock exchange in March 2002.
Ever since that day the company has grown and diversified. Since establishing the Belgium franchise retail chain GameMania in 2006, specialising in games, it has become part of Free Record Shop Holding.
Hans Breukhoven is CEO and chairman of the Board of Managing Directors of Free Record Shop Holding. Their headquarters is registered in Capelle aan den IJssel.
Niels Leibbrandt
Senior Manager Technology Marketing, Sony Consumer Marketing Europe, United Kingdom. & Chairman European Promotion Committee, Blu-ray Disc Association
Ever felt the desire to create and perfect your own Home-Theatre system? What started as a hobby for Niels Leibbrandt and small company in designing and selling custom made speakers at the age of 20, turned out to become the start of a professional career.
Now years later, Leibbrandt is in the unique position to co-operate intensively with some of the most respected companies in the industry on best High-Definition home entertainment standard ever created.
Niels Leibbrandt was elected Chairman of the Blu-ray Disc Association European promotion Committee per January 2009 for a two-year appointment. Leibbrandt brings a wealth of experience and modern marketing methods in the arena of introducing new entertainment formats.
Before working within Sony Consumer Marketing Europe, on the marketing of new technologies and innovations, he was promoting home entertainment standards like DVD+RW within Royal Philips Electronics. Born in the Netherlands, he holds a B.Sc. as Commercial Technical Engineer and a M.Sc. in Business Marketing
Chris Skarrat
Chris Skarrat, Managing Director, Petrol Digital Media
Paul Chesney
Paul Chesney commenced his career in the Home Entertainment Industry in 1983 at Warner Home Video, where he managed UK Operations for nearly 9 years. He then moved onto Disney in a European capacity, managing and planning the operational release of 9 of the Industry’s top 10 titles, with BVHE driving the retail sector as the business moved from VHS to DVD format. In addition, Paul was actively involved in initiatives such as launching the Disney Interactive business, along with rebranding and positioning the Disney audio business within the UK retail arena. Paul also chaired the BVA sub-committee responsible for determining the future format of the DVD box as Amaray.
More recently, Paul undertook the role of Managing Director of Technicolor in the UK before moving into Business Development at Independent Music Industry Supplier Disctronics where he developed their UK DVD business to over 15% market share before they sold to Deluxe Media Services. At Deluxe, Paul eventually took on the mantle of SVP Sales and Marketing Worldwide before leaving Home Entertainment and joining Digital Cinema leaders Arts Alliance Media where he was responsible for developing theatrical digital content business and launching an ‘Alternative Content’ operation which involved acquiring and bringing live and recorded events to digital cinemas Worldwide across the Opera, Music and special interest genres.
Paul rejoined the Home Entertainment arena in March 2009 at Universal Pictures International Entertainment (UPIE) as VP International Operations, with a remit to efficiently manage and secure the supply-chain for all territories outside of the USA and Canada.
Fergus Rigley
Fergus Rigley, Sr. Director of Distribution & Logistics EMEA E&D Supply Chain Manufacturing, Microsoft
Russell Stewart
Russell Stewart, Director of Product Development, Sony DADC
Julian Day
Julian Day, Director of Digital Services, DGP
Gerre Versteegh
Gerre Versteegh, Chairman of the Board, Bonver
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