Wireless LED lighting manufacturer Astera has created of a new Group CEO position with the appointment of Carl-Johan Sköld. Carl-Johan will be based in Hong Kong and collaborating closely with both the German HQ and design centre alongside Astera’s Chinese manufacturing teams to shape the company’s medium term and future growth strategies.

With extensive expertise in long-term business development and strategy, Carl-Johan has ambitious goals for Astera’s future, whilst also fortifying the brand’s current standing as a market leading lighting technology brand. Astera’s sales director Sebastian Buckle commented, “It’s hugely exciting to have someone of Carl-Johan’s caliber onboard as our company moves to the next phase of its development. Carl-Johan brings great expertise, a huge enthusiasm for our industry and a brilliant track record of foresight and success, all of which will have positive impact on Astera going forward and we look forward to a long and productive relationship.”

Carl-Johan has already worked as a consultant for Astera for some time, and is aware of its many assets.
He noted “Astera has many strengths and the key to developing any effective future strategies starts with these. The approach to innovation – based on thoughtful design tailored to the specific needs of multiple lighting professionals – makes Astera stand out in the market and provides a great basis for further growth.

“It is clear from the recognition that Astera gets from key practitioners and creatives across the concert touring and live performance sectors that the brand’s reputation is well deserved, and I am both grateful and excited to be embracing this new path together.”

Carl-Johan also highlighted how the innovation of smart technologies coupled with the people-focus of the live performance and production industries has made Astera’s carefully designed and crafted products-based approach so successful in the world of those working with light in new, different, and cool ways.

One key area in which Carl-Johan will immediately be concentrating his expertise on is intensifying Astera’s presence in Asian markets, including advising the German R ‘n’ D and sales management teams on the user needs within the diverse Asian markets. There will also be some exploration into potential new and increasingly sustainable manufacturing territories and processes.

Carl-Johan will also be enhancing general business practices, intelligence and the financial reporting infrastructure and systems to underpin quick and efficient decision-making that boosts productivity across the entire organization. Astera expects that all this and more will define the company’s commercial objectives for the next 5-8 years.

Astera