Boutique video specialist iMAG has appointed David Barton as operations manager, strengthening its leadership team as the company prepares for its next stage of expansion in the live events and experiential sector.
Barton joins the business after an 18-year tenure at Encore, where he most recently served as head of video for the UK, building a track record in large-scale technical delivery and operational management across conferences, exhibitions and live productions.
Background: demand for specialist video production
The appointment comes at a time when event organisers, agencies and venues are continuing to invest in high-quality video as a central component of their production strategies. From LED walls and IMAG (image magnification) to broadcast-style camera packages and hybrid streaming workflows, the technical bar for visual content at in-person and online events has risen sharply.
Specialist video partners such as iMAG are increasingly being tasked with delivering more complex setups, tighter turnaround times and integrated workflows that link onsite production, content capture and digital distribution. This shift places greater emphasis on robust operations management to maintain quality, consistency and scalability.
With the events market stabilising after the disruption of recent years, many production suppliers are moving from short-term recovery into longer-term growth planning. That typically includes investment in senior operational roles to streamline delivery, formalise processes and support expansion into new client segments or geographies.
Key developments: Barton’s role and experience
In his new position as operations manager, Barton is tasked with overseeing iMAG’s day-to-day technical delivery and supporting the company as it scales its project portfolio. His remit is expected to include coordination of production workflows, resource planning and operational standards across the company’s live and video-based services.
Barton spent nearly two decades at Encore, working across a range of roles that culminated in his appointment as head of video for the UK. In that position, he was responsible for leading video operations, managing teams and supporting technically demanding corporate and live events. Over time, he developed a reputation for both technical depth and operational leadership in the AV and events sector.
By bringing Barton into the organisation, iMAG is investing in experienced operational oversight to underpin its boutique service model. The company, which has built its name around specialist video solutions, is positioning this hire as a key step in formalising the structures needed to support its growth trajectory while maintaining creative and technical standards.
Industry impact: operations under the spotlight
The move highlights a broader trend across the event technology and production ecosystem: as demand for sophisticated video grows, so does the operational complexity behind it. Vendors are increasingly competing not just on equipment and creativity, but on their ability to deliver consistent, scalable operations across multiple venues and event formats.
Senior operational hires can influence how suppliers work with agencies, organisers and venues, from planning and pre-production through to onsite delivery and post-event content workflows. Enhanced operations leadership often leads to more formalised processes around logistics, crew scheduling, risk management and technical documentation, which can in turn improve reliability for clients.
For event organisers, the presence of experienced operations managers within supplier teams can reduce friction during planning and delivery, particularly on events with heavy video components such as multi-stage conferences, live-streamed product launches, broadcast-style keynotes and hybrid exhibitions.
Why this matters for event professionals and technology providers
For event planners, agencies and venue teams, the appointment underscores several practical considerations when selecting and collaborating with video and production partners:
- Operational maturity is becoming a key differentiator. Beyond creative show design and equipment inventories, organisers are increasingly asking how suppliers manage scheduling, contingency planning, health and safety, and multi-site delivery. Senior operations roles can be a sign that a provider is investing in this capability.
- Complex video demands structured leadership. As shows incorporate larger LED canvases, multiple camera positions, live streaming and on-demand content capture, project risk increases. Having an operations manager with deep technical background can help translate creative concepts into achievable, well-managed delivery plans.
- Scalability requires process, not just people. Suppliers that are entering a growth phase often need to move from ad-hoc approaches to more standardised workflows. This can benefit clients through clearer communication, predictable costs and better integration with other event technology platforms such as registration, apps and virtual event tools.
- Partnership models are evolving. As video becomes more central to event strategy, clients may involve operations leaders earlier in the planning cycle, discussing technical feasibility, bandwidth, content formats and post-event use cases at the RFP or concept stage rather than solely during pre-production.
For technology providers and production companies, iMAG’s decision to expand its leadership team with an operations-focused role reflects an industry-wide shift toward more structured management of technical services. Companies that specialise in video, staging, lighting or hybrid platforms are increasingly building cross-functional teams that combine creative, technical and operational expertise to meet client expectations.
Conclusion
iMAG’s appointment of David Barton as operations manager marks a strategic investment in the company’s next phase of growth, reinforcing its operational backbone at a time when event video requirements are becoming more demanding and more central to event design.
Barton brings nearly two decades of operational and technical leadership from his time at Encore, notably as head of video in the UK. His new role is expected to focus on strengthening delivery processes, supporting the scalability of iMAG’s services and helping the business respond to rising expectations around video quality and reliability across live, hybrid and experiential projects.
For event professionals, the move is another signal that technical operations – not just creative capability – will be a defining factor in how production partners support increasingly complex event formats in the years ahead.