Canon UK strengthens its pro video business with two senior appointments

Canon UK today announced a double appointment to its sales team, with Ian Barnard joining as its new sales director and Matthew Yates as its broadcast and video segment manager. 

Matthew Yates (L) and Ian Barnard (R)

With a background as a senior international director, Barnard will be leading the sales of consumer and professional imaging products through multiple retail and B2B channels across the UK and Ireland. His skills at leading sales, marketing and general business management will be utilised to further strengthen Canon’s strong broadcast heritage.

Barnard joins Canon UK after more than two years as global sales and operations director at an imaging start up company. He was previously at Sony Europe, where he fulfilled multiple high profile positions within sales and marketing functions.

Matthew Yates takes up the role of broadcast and video segment manager after five years at Canon where he previously covered product management and business development in the UK and across Europe. In his new role, Yates will be responsible for business development, third party and end user relationships in the broadcast, cinema and professional videography segments.

“We’re delighted that Ian and Matthew are joining us at this exciting time for the business and we look forward to working with them to continue to the lead the way in delivering innovative tools into the market that enable professional users to better tell their stories,” said Matthew Searle, country director at Canon UK and Ireland.

Commenting on his appointment, Barnard said: “Canon is an iconic brand, with a particularly strong heritage in professional photo and video. Its continued commitment to R&D, backed up by the impressive number of patents it holds, means that innovation is at the heart of its business. From a sales point of view, this means I can go to the market confident in the quality of its tools.”

Yates added: “I’ve spent five years with Canon, focussing on its professional video and broadcast businesses, so fully understand the challenges that the industry is facing with the emergence and adoption of new formats and workflows. This new role will enable me to work closely with broadcasters, production companies, facilities providers and rental houses to ensure that users can deliver their creative vision, every time.”