Stampede today announced its expansion into the western European Pro AV and IT markets with the opening of a new UK-based office that will be managed by Stampede founder & CEO Mark Wilkins, who is leading the expansion of the company’s footprint in western Europe.

According to Wilkins, the decision to replicate its business model of providing resellers and their end user customers with the broadest range of Pro AV and IT solutions backed by best-in-class design, installation, and ongoing training and support is being driven by the growth of Drone Video Systems (DVS) and other Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. “The adoption rate of drone technology and the regulatory environment in the UK and western Europe is very different than in the United States.  And, as a result, the emerging vertical market business opportunities are an order of magnitude greater here,” said Wilkins. “Our pioneering leadership of this category, our established vendor relationships, and our strategic alliance with Unmanned Vehicle University combines to present us with an extraordinary opportunity to meet UK and European reseller and customer DVS needs better than any other distributor.”

Wilkins is a globally recognized expert in the international distribution of technology products, solutions, and services. Before founding Stampede nearly 20 years ago, Wilkins served as the Managing Director of UK-based Maverick Presentation Products, Ltd.  In 1997, Wilkins saw the opportunity to bring the Maverick business model to the United States and he formed Stampede, which is today the oldest and largest value-added distributor of Pro AV solutions in North America, serving customers throughout the United States, Canada, and Latin America.  “Thus, in a very literal way, this new expansion by Stampede marks my return home.  I’m looking forward to making the third act of my career the biggest and best yet for our partners in the region,” stated Wilkins.

Stampede President & COO Kevin Kelly emphasized that, while drones and DVS solutions are the drivers of the expansion, the company’s goal is to replicate Stampede’s entire business culture and philosophy in the region. “We intend to be for UK and western European resellers and customers what we are now for resellers and customers throughout the Americas — a single, one-stop source of smart, profitable high value-added Pro AV and IT integration solutions that exceed customer expectations in ways that generate long-term repeat business for our partners,” remarked Kelly.

“We are open for business in Europe,” Kelly stressed, “and we are looking for experienced sales professionals who share our values to join our team and we are actively recruiting manufacturers in the region for our manufacturer portfolio.  If you want to always stay ahead of the herd in offering the market fresh new thinking, new technologies, new revenue-generating business opportunities, we want to meet with you.”

Stampede is building its launch into western Europe around the introduction of the most comprehensive line of Drone Video Systems ever to be introduced to the region at ISE 2016.

To learn more about Stampede’s European market expansion, visit Stampede’s Drone Arena in the Park Foyer, outside the back of Hall 8, at the RAI Exhibition Center from February 9-12, 2016 in Amsterdam.

Stampede is here.