Astera Expands Strategically by Appointing Simon Canins as CTO and Ben Díaz as Head of PM

Astera – a leading manufacturer of innovative lighting solutions for film and events – is thrilled to announce the establishment of a new Product Management Department as part of its ongoing commitment to enhancing product development and customer satisfaction.

Simon Canins, newly appointed CTO of Astera said: “We are thrilled to welcome Ben Díaz to the Astera family and embark on an exciting journey of growth and innovation together.

Ben’s unique ability to listen to and understand the evolving needs of our customers makes him the perfect candidate to head up our busy product development.

Being able to delegate responsibilities to someone of Ben’s caliber gives me strong confidence in reaching our company’s goals. Together we will create a seamless integration of product excellence and user-centric strategies, aligning with our ongoing mission to remain at the forefront of technological advancements.”

In this exciting development, Ben Díaz, a seasoned industry professional with a proven track, has been appointed as the Head of Product Management. He brings a wealth of experience and a forward-thinking approach to the role, ensuring Astera’s products continue to meet and exceed customer expectations.

Since 2014, Ben Díaz has been working for two leading lighting companies specializing in premium LED technology. As Astera’s new Head of Product Management, Díaz brings over two decades of experience in Product Management, Business Development, Sales, Technical Marketing, and User Experience Design for top-tier brands.

Notably, his role as Senior Product Manager at ARRI resulted in the creation of the award-winning SkyPanel X, earning the Best of Lighting Innovation Award at IBC 2023. Before that, he had been working for SGM light as Head of Product Management where amongst other things he developed the first IP66 lights for the stage lighting industry.

Speaking of his upcoming role, Ben Díaz said: “Leading the product vision in a high-quality, user-centric brand for both film and entertainment is the logical step forward in my career. What I really like about Astera is that the company solves the real problems of Filmmakers, LDs and lighting crews through careful listening, premium quality and smart innovations.”

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