PPDS, the exclusive global provider of Philips digital signage, interactive displays, direct view LED and professional TV products and solutions, is excited to announce its US business has become a wholly-owned subsidiary of the TPV Group, as the company enters a new, accelerated hypergrowth phase in North America.
This highly strategic development fully aligns the business with PPDS’ wider global operations, unlocking immeasurable benefits and opportunities for its partners and customers. This includes adding more choice and value to the market, while offering unrivalled partner support, facilitating projects on both a local and global scale across industries including Corporate, Education, Healthcare, Hospitality, Retail and Transportation.
Vince Schuster (front facing) and Franck Racape
Operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of TPV, the world’s largest manufacturer of LCD displays, the transfer of activities from EPI (effective from May 1), means PPDS US will now utilize the full manufacturing strengths and resources enjoyed by teams across PPDS’ other international markets, including priority access to core components and materials for manufacturing continuity, and end-to-end supply chain systems enabling full control and monitoring of logistics streams.
Hypergrowth
With this latest development in its global growth program, PPDS has set an ambitious target to achieve a top three market position in North America, cementing its position as one of the world’s fastest growing enablers of professional display solutions.
Franck Racapé, Head of Global Commercial at PPDS commented: “As part of the company’s long-term plan to exponentially expand Philips professional display sales on a global level, our growth in the North American market is a milestone in our success. Our current business dynamic in North America is very promising and we look forward to further accelerating the trend, offering total display solutions for customers in all sectors, and positioning Philips professional displays as we believe they should be.”
Transitioning
In preparation for this latest evolution of the US business, PPDS has made a number of significant structural changes over the past 12 months. These include a major company rebrand in February (2021), switching to PPDS – previously Philips Professional Display Solutions. More than just a new name, PPDS represents the transition of the business from a provider of displays to a total solutions enabler, forming strategic complimentary relationships with key third party partners, both locally and globally, including AppSpace, Crestron, D-Tools, Logitech, Intel, Navori, and Skykit, to name just a few, adding more solutions, choice and value to the channel and the wider market.
Amid a series of product and partnership announcements, PPDS has also confirmed a series of important internal management restructures to support and facilitate expansion in key market verticals (including Hospitality, Education, Corporate and Retail), plus a growing number of high-profile additions to its senior leadership teams. In North America, these include:
- Bruce Wrywitzke, Director of Sales
- Joseph King, promoted as PPDS’ new dedicated VP For Hospitality
- Patrick VanTreese, Education Sales Manager,
- Beth Donow, Supply Chain Manager
- Alison Maxson, Senior Marketing Manager
- Mitch Rosenberg, Director of LED and LCD Videowalls
- Adam Coleman, Solutions Manager, LED and LCD Videowalls
- Jeff Handis, PPDS Channel Manager – Distribution & DMR
Helping to accelerate the growth of PPDS in North America, the US team will also receive support from PPDS’ newly announced global leadership team, consisting of Franck Racapé – Head of Global Commercial, Martijn Van der Woude – Head of Global Business Development and Marketing, and Robert Hsu – Head of Global Product Management.
Driving the business forward in the US, is highly experienced and accomplished AV business leader, Vince Schuster, who was appointed in October 2021 as the company’s Vice President, Professional Displays.
Speaking of today’s changes, Schuster emphasized that, as well as the significant growth of the business in the US market over the past 12-months, PPDS being backed by one of the industry’s most complete and innovative solution portfolios means it is well equipped to fulfil its market ambitions.
Vince commented: “This is one of the most exciting projects I have been part of during my career. The organization is equipped with a complete, industry-leading product portfolio to suit a variety of key markets, including signage and information displays, hospitality TVs, interactive and collaboration displays, business TVs and DV LED.”
He continued: “Leveraging our partnerships and open technologies, such as Android, while capitalizing on recent announcements, such as our Cloud based Wave platform, to deliver a modern technology to securely and remotely monitor large project roll outs for our SIs and software partners, PPDS already stands tall and proud in the global market. With TPV, the future for the US business has never been brighter and we look forward to our partners joining us on our journey and helping them to surpass their customer’s expectations with highly innovative and future proof solutions.”
Bruce Wrywitzke added: “It is exciting to see how fast changes are occurring at PPDS and the outlook is very promising. We are looking forward to meeting all our customers at InfoComm with one main message in mind: Dare to challenge us on large project roll outs, national or global, so that we can demonstrate our capabilities that have proven successful overseas and will guide us to a wider position in the North American market.”
About PPDS
PPDS is a trading name of TP Vision Europe B.V. (“TP Vision”) and MMD-Monitors & Displays Nederland B.V. (“MMD”), registered in the Netherlands, with their head offices in Amsterdam. TP Vision and MMD are wholly owned subsidiaries of TPV Technology Limited (“TPV”), the world’s largest manufacturer of monitors and a leading provider of display solutions.
PPDS exclusively markets and sells Philips-branded professional displays, covering professional TVs, signage and LED solutions, worldwide under trademark license by Koninklijke Philips N.V.
By combining the Philips brand promise with TPV’s manufacturing expertise in displays, PPDS employs a competitive and focused approach to bring innovative products to market – from its 10” touchscreen through to unlimited LED displays. Designing solutions that make a positive impact, both for resellers and for end-customers – at the right time and in the right places.
