The last 12 months have been particularly productive for The Freedman Group, whose flagship brand RØDE still has its products designed and manufactured in Australia. Today sees two new and key appointments; Nick Engel (main picture) is the new Senior Director of Engineering for RØDE and Alex Nelson (pictured below) who recently retired as Mackie CEO, joins Loud Audio, LLC as an advisor and board member.
Mackie isn’t a familiar brand name in Australia but was the American pro audio leader prior to The Freedman Group acquiring it in December 2023. Alex Nelson had been CEO for 18 years.
Nelson said:
“I am excited to transition into this new role and continue contributing to the success of Mackie and The Freedman Group. Moving on from my role as CEO, I am filled with pride for what we have accomplished and immense optimism for what lies ahead. I look forward to supporting the talented team in this new capacity as we drive the future of The Freedman Group – now a premier audio powerhouse that offers incredible solutions spanning all aspects of audio.”
Nick Engel joins RØDE with two decades experience in the audio technology industry, at Dolby and Apple. He will oversee all aspects of engineering for the New Product Group, driving the development of RØDE’s future product roadmap, to create groundbreaking and innovative tools for creators across the globe like the recently released RØDECaster Video (pictured below).
Of the appointment, RØDE CEO Damien Wilson said:
“We are incredibly excited to welcome Nick Engel to the RØDE team. His impressive background in audio engineering and his experience working with some of the world’s most iconic technology brands make him the perfect fit for our team. Nick’s expertise will be crucial as we push the boundaries of what’s possible creative technology and continue to create exceptional products for the next generation of creators.”
And Engel said:
“I was drawn to RØDE because RØDE is a global leader in its field. I’ve always been able to rely on RØDE products both professionally and in my creative personal life, so it’s an honour to join the company at such an exciting time. RØDE’s commitment to excellence in product design and engineering is truly inspiring. I look forward to working alongside the talented team here to build on the company’s legacy of delivering industry-leading products that empower creators around the world.”