AV and event production company Blitz, a GES company, has announced the appointment of Oliver Richardson as group commercial director.

Richardson joins Blitz from Aztec Event Services where he served as commercial director for both UK and Europe. Prior to Aztec, Oliver spent 18 years at DBpixelhouse in sales management and senior leadership roles, and was part of the management team that led the sale of the business to private equity in 2015.

Richardson will report to Mike Phillipson, managing director at Blitz and joins the executive leadership team.

Richardson said: “It’s a hugely exciting time to be joining Blitz. The business has a proud 30- year history with a great reputation for quality and technical excellence. There is a compelling story to tell and a superb client list. I’m relishing the opportunity to work with Mike and the team to deliver extraordinary live events for our customers and drive further growth to the business.”

Mike Phillipson, managing director of Blitz, commented: “I’m delighted Ollie has joined the business. His background blends both entrepreneurial and commercial capabilities and is a great fit for Blitz as we embark on the next phase of our growth. Our clients are embracing live events as a key marketing channel and Ollie’s expertise will prove invaluable to both existing and new customers.”