New Year, New PLASA The new year sees the launch of the enlarged PLASA trade association, following the formal merger between industry trade bodies ESTA and PLASA on January 1. The merger has created one of the largest networks serving the industry worldwide. Operating from regional offices in Europe and North America, PLASA now has a membership of 1,100 businesses, organizations and individuals working across the entertainment, events and installation industries, giving it a substantial worldwide industry voice. The move also greatly strengthens PLASA's position of leadership in the development of industry standards, best practices and skills. The formal merger represents the first phase of the two associations coming together, and the months ahead will be focused on the further unification of the wider range of projects and initiatives that now sit under the PLASA banner. In the meantime, there have been some immediate changes, including a new PLASA logo and brand identity, designed to better represent a modern, proactive association. A new complementary logo for members has also been designed and PLASA will work hard in the coming months to achieve industry profile for its new identity, and to strengthen commercial opportunities for its members. The first phase of the new PLASA website has now gone live, bringing together a range of information covering PLASA's expanded membership, events, media, skills and standards and technical activities, together with industry guidance documents and links to information for members. On a more strategic level, the first meetings of the new member-led European and North American regional boards are planned for later this month, while the first assembly of the international governing body will take place in March during USITT. Chairing the new regional boards are Rob Lingfield in the EU and Eddie Raymond in North America, while the governing body, an amalgamation of the three principal officers of the regional boards together with three "at large" members, has elected Mike Wood as chair and Rob Lingfield as vice chair. In a joint statement, Lingfield and Raymond, said: "The rationale behind bringing together the respective strengths of PLASA and ESTA has never been in doubt and even in these early stages, the benefits from having a single voice representing the worldwide industry are obvious. We're confident that the PLASA team, working in partnership with the members, can make the most of this unique opportunity and that PLASA will reinforce its leadership role in the industry, bringing a united approach to the opportunities, issues and challenges that make this industry such a fantastic and dynamic place to work." 
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