PPDS announces new management after unexpected death

Philips Professional Display Solutions (PPDS), the exclusive global provider of Philips displays and complementary solutions, has announced the promotion of Jae O Choi Park and Ron Cottaar to new senior roles.

Park, who joined PPDS as European Sales Director in 2022, has been promoted to the newly created position of EMEA commercial head, joining Angela Lin, Jason Wu, and Rosa Chiu, the commercial heads for US and LATAM, China, APA, and India respectively.

In his new role, which Park has held on an interim basis since 2024, he will officially oversee all of PPDS’ European sales and support activities.

Discussing his new role, Park says: “I am excited to have accepted this new role and to play my part in fulfilling this company’s potential.

“PPDS is on an exciting journey, delivering what I believe to be the industry’s most advanced, innovative, and sustainable solutions, backed by the industry’s most talented team of professionals. We are on an upward trajectory, and what excites me the most is that we have so much more to come.”

Ron Cottaar will now serve as head of global marketing, tasked with expanding PPDS’ global presence and boosting the brand on a local, regional, and international scale.

Cottaar has worked for the company for seven years, most recently as its head of marketing for North America.

Commenting on the new position, Cottaar says: “I am proud to work with some immensely talented teams around the world, all striving for the same goals.

“In my new role and under the new structure, we will continue to accelerate brand awareness and the value of PPDS, while bringing new opportunities to our partners and customers.”

The promotions follow the unexpected death of Martijn van der Woude, vice president of global business development and marketing at PPDS.

Van der Woude, who had worked for PPDS since 2019, passed away suddenly in April from a heart attack, at the age of 55.

Before PPDS, in a career spanning more than 25 years in business development, sales and marketing, and general management, van der Woude co-founded a dvLED manufacturing company in Asia and led a Dutch software and consultancy firm.

A statement from PPDS following his passing read: “He will be remembered as a transformational and entrepreneurial enabler – a champion in the AV community globally.

“Martijn will be truly missed by us all. In his private life, he was a pilot in every sense of the word, a devoted husband and father with a love for the skies. Our thoughts are with all in Martijn's family."

A tribute from German signage magazine, Invidis, described van der Woude as “the face of Philips in the global digital signage market,” characterising him as “always an extremely honest analyst and unafraid to address industry challenges.”