Miller will guide the regional office as it continues to deliver exceptional lighting solutions and support to its customers.
Panalux, a leading rental provider of lighting and power solutions for the motion-picture industry and part of the Panavision group’s end-to-end service offerings for filmmakers, has announced the appointment of Julia Miller as Branch Manager of Panalux Manchester. Previously a Sales Manager with Panalux, Miller first joined the Panavision family of brands as the Branch Manager for the Manchester office of Direct Digital, the Panavision group division specialising in camera, lighting and grip equipment rental for moving-image and still photography. Miller’s new role coincides with the retirement of longtime Panalux veteran Ian Swindells, whose nearly 40-year tenure saw him advance from maintenance technician to trusted client contact on his way to becoming Branch Supervisor for the Manchester office.
Before joining the Panavision group, Miller built her career across a range of roles in the film and television industry. She worked as a producer in advertising for more than 20 years, much of that time also spent heading the TV Department at the agency Cheetham Bell, where she partnered with many renowned brands. Moving to the client side, she joined Asda, working out of the company’s headquarters in Leeds to build an in-house production facility and lead the production team for Asda’s marketing campaigns. She then joined Procam Take 2 as Sales Director for the Northern Division on her way to joining the Panavision group. Her extensive industry experience laid the groundwork for the leadership and expertise she brings to her new role with Panalux.
“We’re excited to welcome Julia into her new role as Branch Manager of Panalux Manchester,” said Michele Channer, Managing Director for Panalux. “Julia brings experience, deep industry knowledge and relationships, and a strong commitment to supporting our clients and teams, making her an excellent fit to lead our Manchester operations. At the same time, we extend our heartfelt thanks to Ian for his many years of loyalty and outstanding service. He has been a cornerstone of Panalux, and his dedication, expertise and leadership leave a lasting legacy. We wish him all the best in his well-earned retirement.”
“I’m thrilled to join as the new Branch Manager and lead such a skilled and passionate team,” said Miller. “It’s an honour to follow in Ian’s footsteps, and I’m committed to building on the strong relationships and high standards that have defined the Panalux brand. I look forward to working closely with our dedicated team to continue delivering exceptional lighting solutions and outstanding support that meet the evolving needs of our industry.”
Panalux’s locations across the U.K. also include facilities in Cardiff, London, Glasgow and Belfast, and the company also operates in France, Belgium and South Africa. Panalux supports commercials, feature films and television series with an ever-expanding rental inventory that includes high-end lighting, power and grip equipment from renowned manufacturers and cutting-edge proprietary innovations available nowhere else. Recent projects supported by Panalux include the series Outlander: Blood of My Blood, Adolescence and A Thousand Blows, and the features Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, Gladiator II and the upcoming The Roses.