CHRISTIE DIGITAL SYSTEMS USA - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Chief Technology Officer ( CTO ) and Chief Strategy Officer ( CSO )
Atsushi Kuroda brings more than three decades of experience to his role as chief technology officer (CTO) and chief strategy officer (CSO) at Christie. Atsushi is responsible for Christie's strategic product line direction and managing the development of new products and system solutions. His mission is to expand Christie business operations while creating synergies with Ushio. With experience as an electrical engineer and a project manager, Atsushi brings extensive technical skills and leadership qualities to Christie.
Job Titles:
- President of Nationwide Video
Bret Tracey is president of Nationwide Video (Nationwide) and is responsible for directing wholesale subrental sales and operations in North America. Nationwide is a leader in creative, alternative video equipment rental solutions for the ProAV industry, from time-saving gear casing solutions to freight-free shipping.
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President, Cinema
With more than 30 years of experience, cinema is in Brian Claypool's DNA. As EVP, cinema, Brian leads a team of experienced innovators, marketers, and customer relations specialists who work to meet the evolving needs of filmmakers, production houses, and exhibitors worldwide. Brian champions Christie's ongoing mission to create the products and services that allow global audiences to enjoy the best-possible cinematic experiences.
Since Brian's first job as a projectionist in Ohio, he's worked in exhibition, production, and post-production with companies such as Lucasfilm Ltd.'s THX division, at radio and television stations, for Avica Technology, and more. Brian's served on the board of governors of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers and is an active member of the International Cinema Technology Association and Inter-Society Digital Cinema Forum, and contributes to the European Digital Cinema Forum and China Digital Cinema Forum.
Brian speaks at global trade shows and events and works closely with leading directors and technologists in the industry who, together with Christie, continue to push the boundaries of the cinematic experience. He's also a regular contributor to respected industry publications.
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President, Ventures
As EVP, ventures, Clark Williams is responsible for all engineering and product management resources for Christie's content management and processing products-including Christie Spyder, Phoenix®, and Pandoras Box®.
Job Titles:
- Chief Information & Marketing Officer
With more than 35 years in the movie exhibition industry, David's held positions in information technology, operations, and marketing. David's career revolves around customer experience and innovative uses of technology.
David joined Christie in December of 2018. Prior to Christie, David worked at Regal Entertainment Group for 16 years, where he held positions as VP, IT business planning, and chief information officer.
Prior to Regal, David was executive director and VP, sales and marketing, at a world-leading syndicator of movie and cinema information.
David started his career at Mann Theatres, where he worked his way up from usher to general manager, having managed some of the most prominent cinemas in Colorado and California.
Job Titles:
- Associate General Counsel
Job Titles:
- President and COO of Christie Digital Systems, Inc. ( Christie 's Holding Company ), Christie Digital Systems Canada Inc., and Christie Digital Systems USA, Inc
Hideaki Onishi is President and COO of Christie Digital Systems, Inc. (Christie's holding company), Christie Digital Systems Canada Inc., and Christie Digital Systems USA, Inc. He has more than 30 years of management experience in various positions within the Ushio, Inc. group.
Hideaki began working for Ushio in 1989. Known for his strong aptitude in sales, he has also continued to demonstrate impressive management skills throughout his career. He has a broad and extensive range of experience in various roles, having worked at Ushio Lighting, Taiwan Ushio Lighting, Adtech Engineering, Ushio Asia Pacific (Singapore), Vietnam, Thailand, and Ushio Europe. Among many highlights, Hideaki was entrusted with guiding the manufacture and sales of the printed circuit board (PCB) exposure machines that Ushio acquired in their 2012 acquisition of ADTEC Engineering. The next five years saw the business reach a position of strength, which culminated in his appointment as president of Ushio Asia Pacific in 2016. Hideaki joined Christie in 2022 from his previous role as president of Ushio Europe.
Job Titles:
- CEO
- CEO, Christie Digital Systems, Inc
Koji Naito is CEO of Christie Digital Systems, Inc. (Christie's holding company).
Having held progressively responsible positions at Ushio for nearly four decades, Koji Naito leads Christie with industry-wide experience and credibility. As a business leader, Naito is inspired to align Ushio and Christie's management, business strategies, and philosophies to drive success. Koji places significant emphasis on understanding customers' needs and taking further action to achieve global sustainability practices. Koji supports the company's mission to use light as illumination and energy to strengthen human well-being and societal growth.
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President, Enterprise
- Executive Vice President, Enterprise / ProAV
Michael's incredible 30+ years of AV industry experience started in the UK at a rental staging company that supplied the West End theatres in London. After moving into a business development role, he moved back to Australia and worked as a general manager with Staging Connections in Brisbane. His next move? Creating his own design visualization solutions company, VR Solutions Pty Ltd. (VRS), which grew to include offices in Australia, India, and Malaysia. When Christie acquired VRS in 2013, Michael managed the Christie Australia office and served as head of Asia Pacific sales for the enterprise division.
With significant experience that spans rental staging, theme park and visitor attractions, control rooms, and product distribution markets, Michael is well-positioned in his role as EVP, enterprise. In this role, Michael leads a division that creates innovative AV solutions for many customer markets, from control rooms, government solutions, and education, to rental and staging, museums, giant screens and planetariums, and more.
As CFO, Mike Phipps is responsible for Christie's global financial operations and consolidated financial reporting. His responsibilities include accounting operations, financial planning, and sales support functions such as contract administration and revenue recognition.
Mike joined Christie in 2008 as an assistant controller and has since held roles as VP, finance, USA controller, and corporate controller.
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary, Christie Group Companies
- Member of the Advanced Licensing Agreements
Robert Ranucci brings almost 30 years of experience to his role as Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary of the Christie Group of Companies. In this role, Robert is responsible for all legal matters affecting the Christie Group of Companies and oversees Christie's team of attorneys and legal specialists.
Before joining Christie in December of 2014, Robert gained more than 14 years of experience in the lighting and display industry, with tenure as the Vice President, General Counsel at VIZIO, ViewSonic, General Displays & Technologies (a GE joint venture), as well as Senior Director of Licensing and Business Development for the LED lighting and display technology division of Rambus. In addition to his corporate and litigation background, Robert is experienced in leveraging innovative supply chain, customer channel and licensing arrangements to solve complex challenges and drive successful outcomes.
Robert is a faculty member on the Advanced Licensing Agreements program offered by Practising Law Institute. Robert received his Bachelor's degree in Economics at Claremont McKenna College and earned his Master of Arts, Economics and Juris Doctorate from the University of Southern California. He is a member of the Bar in California and Arizona.
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President, Professional Services
Sean James is responsible for Christie's global professional services (GPS) division. Prior to this role, Sean led the global enterprise/ProAV team.
Job Titles:
- VP, Industrial Applications