PMY AND WJHW ANNOUNCE NEW ROLE FOR CHRIS WILLIAMS
PMY AND WJHW ANNOUNCE NEW ROLE FOR CHRIS WILLIAMS
PRESS RELEASE
19 APRIL 2023
PRESS RELEASE
Dallas, Texas. Today, PMY Group (PMY) and Wrightson, Johnson, Haddon & Williams Inc (WJHW) announces the change in role for Chris Williams, Managing Principal, of WJHW. While Chris will be retiring from his formal responsibilities with WJHW, he won’t be going far as he transitions into a new role with PMY, the parent company of WJHW, as Global Development and Knowledge Director.
Chris is a founding member of WJHW and has seen the company grow from a back office shared space to the preeminent Sports Venue Technology Consulting firm it is known for today. He has been a part of immeasurable changes in the technology, fan experience, and the impact inside sports venues from the original LED Video display in an NFL venue, to a list of sports production control room firsts (first HD, first 4K, first IP, first fully redundant 2110).
“As Chris and I started the company with Jim Johnson and Bill Haddon, we had sports in mind from our very first client, and to see what the company has grown to with nearly 60 people employed across 7+ states, and as part of the larger global PMY, it’s really astounding to see what we have achieved,” said Jack Wrightson, Founding Principal who remains on with the firm. Wrightson continued, “to see so many people Chris has helped grow into roles both within our firm and throughout the industry is really something.”
Chris has worked in video most of his career including time spent on oil rigs in the North Sea driving remote submersible vessels before filling a variety of other similarly interesting roles before ultimately leveraging all the varied experiences with the wide background of a true consultant.
“Chris is a long-time industry insider often connecting those looking with those searching and has had a huge impact on so many people,” says Daniel Riess, Associate at WJHW. Riess added, “To have met Chris when I was a client a decade ago, to having the opportunity to grow and learn from him, and to ultimately take the reins he has handed me in recent years is such a big part of my career, I know this new chapter for Chris will be just as successful as his past 33 years.”
As indicated, Chris will be retiring from his day-to-day responsibilities with WJHW to move to a worldwide role with PMY, focusing on the growth of the organization in other global regions and markets, after some much needed rest and time off. PMY Chief Executive, Paul Yeomans said, “WJHW supported by PMY has been experiencing tremendous momentum in international markets under the guidance of Chris Williams and PMY Executive General Manager of Strategy and Infrastructure, Kym Shilton. The time is right to invest further into the expansion of our design offering in the UK, EMEA and Asia Pacific, and Chris' knowledge and expertise will be instrumental to ensuring our success in these markets. We are very excited about Chris’ new role and the global achievements that will follow.”
When asked about his departure from WJHW, Chris said “I’m much too young to retire but it’s time to move on and let those who have grown into the amazing members of WJHW take us into our 4th decade and beyond. I’m looking forward to a less hectic travel schedule, a lot less email, and no more web calls!”
Todd Semple, Principal at WJHW, shared, "Chris has a tremendous work ethic with a huge project knowledge base that allowed him to cultivate amazing design principles, draw important opinions and offer sound guidance that has made a difference throughout my career. He will continue to make a difference in his new global role at PMY. I'll aim to uphold what Chris brought into his role and I appreciate him motivating me to bring the highest level of service to our clients.”
Charles Adkinson, Associate Principal at WJHW followed up, “I’ve known Chris for 15 years, first with him as a client and friend, and now as a mentor. He is leaving tremendously big shoes to fill, and over the last 7+ years has carefully helped me understand the unique role he fills and what that means to the people and clients we work with every day.”
Those reaching out to WJHW for Chris’ opinions and insights can touch base with Charles Adkinson and/or Todd Semple; both have been working alongside Chris for months in preparation for a smooth transition of projects and marketing efforts.
René Garza, President of WJHW, concluded “Personally, I cannot thank Chris enough for being such a wonderful mentor to me over the past few years, and I want him to know how much that has meant to me. His guidance and support have been instrumental in helping me prepare to lead WJHW into the future. Chris’ passion for WJHW’s work is evident in every project he has been involved with. As Chris passes the baton on at WJHW and moves in to fill an important global role within PMY, stewarding new consultants and partners, the way he has with us for so long, we will continue to work on the relationships and ideals he has helped build here at WJHW that have stood the test of time for three decades and counting. From all of us, thank you, Chris!”