GLOBAL: As GLP prepares for its next phase of global growth, the company has announced the appointment of Julian von den Stemmen as its new Marketing Director, effective 1 July. He succeeds Ulrich Steinle, who will step away from the company after 17 years to pursue new career opportunities, closing a chapter that has significantly shaped GLP’s identity and communication strategy within the live entertainment technology industry.

The transition has been carefully structured to ensure continuity across GLP’s international marketing operations, with Steinle and von den Stemmen working alongside one another during a joint handover period; a move that reflects the company’s deeply relationship-driven culture and long-standing emphasis on collaboration.

During his nearly two decades with GLP, Steinle played a defining role in shaping how the brand engaged with the global live entertainment market, building a communication approach rooted in close connections with people, products, and industry culture. Reflecting on his departure, Steinle stated: “After almost 17 intense and eventful years at GLP, the time has come for me to do something new, once again. This decision was not an easy one for me, as I have so many ties to GLP, both professionally and personally. I am grateful for the trust, for our shared successes, for many special moments, and for an environment that was never just a job. For me, GLP has always been about friendship, team spirit, and a certain attitude towards the industry. The fact that this departure is not a harsh cut, but an orderly handover, makes me really happy.”

GLP’s Managing Director Udo Künzler acknowledged the personal and professional significance of Steinle’s departure, noting: “Uli is part of the GLP family. Over the years, we have made many decisions together, experienced numerous trips and events, and we also spent many evenings together that went on longer than planned. We have worked, celebrated, discussed, and developed GLP together. For that, I am very grateful to him. His departure is a great loss, but he leaves as a friend. I wish him every success in his next chapter. On a personal level, we will remain connected regardless.”

Stepping into the role, von den Stemmen brings extensive marketing and industry expertise, backed by a degree in business administration specialising in media management and international business. He previously spent eight years at Robe Lighting, serving as Head of Marketing for Germany before becoming International Digital Marketing Manager, and has also held product, technology, and marketing roles at BMW M and Fanatec.

Von den Stemmen arrives with a notably modern perspective on how professional lighting brands must engage today’s market. “Anyone who still tries to sell lighting technology in the live entertainment industry today solely through spec sheets hasn’t understood the market,” says von den Stemmen. “Decision-makers don’t buy specs. They buy impact. The focus is on the total solution, including the emotion on stage that a fixture makes possible through its technical innovations, reliability on tour, and its cost-effectiveness over the entire lifecycle. Light is wholly a creative tool. At GLP, I want to start precisely here. Let’s put people at the centre and bring to life the emotions users can create with our products through real-world showcases, digital staging and all while using the language of creatives.”

He also pointed to GLP’s internal culture as a major factor behind the move, stating: “I’ve already come to know GLP as a very people-oriented, fast-paced, and solution-focused company. That’s very much in line with their value statement, ‘Flexibility. Family. Future.’ This philosophy aligns with my own convictions. For me, this step is a conscious choice to work in an environment where ambitious growth and clear values go hand in hand. I look forward to actively helping shape this path, while building on the strong work Uli has done over the past years.”

Kasper Gissel, Board Member at GLP, believes the appointment positions the company strongly for the future. “In Julian von den Stemmen, we found exactly the right person for this role,” says Gissel. “He knows the industry, understands technology-driven products, and brings a clear vision of how marketing needs to work today. We are very much looking forward to working with him. At the same time, we would like to thank Uli for 17 years of dedication, loyalty, and embodying the GLP spirit, and we wish him all the best for the future.”