Resume

Mike has over 40 years experience working for companies varying in size from 10 to 25,000 employees and has been at senior or executive management level for the past 35 years.

During that time he has worked for both start-up and established companies and has been a member of executive teams responsible for turn-arounds and acquisitions.

He has led design and technology developments and been responsible for the technology strategy, R&D, standards and IP in many different companies.

His responsibilities and direct experience include:-

New product definition and specification including creation of business strategy.
System design of complex control systems.
Management of diverse and multi-office based R&D organizations with total commercial responsibility for delivery of new products.
Responsible for reducing product development time by over 50% and introducing both parallel and platform based development strategies.
Successfully led teams moving products to off-shore manufacturing.
Leadership of technical standards bodies and projects.
Well respected and well known in the entertainment technology industry. Is currently Immediate Past President of US Entertainment Technology Industry Trade Association, ESTA, and previously Chairman of UK Entertainment Technology Industry Trade Association, PLASA.
Technology expertise encompassing a wide range of disciplines.
Highly experienced in all aspects of Intellectual Property including patents, licensing and collaborative projects, royalty negotiations and contracts.
Reliable and authoritative expert witness.
Named inventor on a number of US and world patents. These patents are in diverse fields including optical design, systems design and control mechanisms.
Profitable acquisitions and mergers - due diligence for technology, market share and IP

He has excellent communication skills coupled with a very broad based scientific and engineering background. His past experience working closely with customers gives him a strong ability to work with marketers and focus groups to establish market needs and new product specifications.

Having worked in both the USA and Europe and been elected the leader of trade associations in both places has helped him develop a unique mix of engineering skills coupled with a deep understanding of sales and marketing critical to bringing successful new products to the market place. He brings a unique understanding of the problems and opportunities to be gained in the global market.

In 2006 Mike was presented with ESTA's highest honor - the prestigious Eva Swan Award

Employment History

2004 - current
Mike Wood Consulting LLC. Partner. Consulting services for multiple clients in the entertainment technology industry

1995 - 2004
High End Systems Inc. VP Engineering and Chief Technology Officer

1990 - 1995
JEM Theatrical Ltd (UK) Senior Director

1985 - 1990
DeSisti Ltd (UK) & Coemar Ltd (UK) Director

1979 - 1985
BBC Television Planning Engineer for Capital Projects

Professional Associations

Chair of Governing Body of PLASA worldwide (combined ESTA/PLASA) 2011 - 2012.

President of US Entertainment Technology Industry Trade Association, ESTA: 1999 - 2004. Treasurer 2006 - 2012
(Entertainment Services and Technology Association)

Vice Chairman & Chairman of UK Entertainment Technology Industry Trade Association, PLASA: 1992 - 1995.
(Professional Lighting and Sound Association)

Co-Chair of ANSI accredited Technical Standards Committee - ANSI ASC E1.

Member of IESNA (Illuminating Engineering Society of North America) color committee.

ETCP Recognized Trainer.

Education

M.A. (Honors), Trinity College, Cambridge.
Electrical Engineering

B.A. (Honors), Trinity College, Cambridge.
Honors Degree course in Engineering specializing in Electrical Sciences