September 16, 2024

Lumentruss looking to shape the future of architectural lighting with arrival of industry pioneer Howard Yaphe as VP Strategy & Innovation

Montreal, Canada  – Lumentruss, a Montreal-based manufacturer of leading‑edge architectural lighting solutions, is pleased to welcome in its leadership team lighting visionary Howard Yaphe as Vice President – Strategy & Innovation.

Howard Yaphe

Lumentruss specializes in integrating LED lighting technology into materials, surfaces and structures, resulting in lighting that blends in seamlessly with the built environment. With a network of agents spanning North America, Lumentruss is looking forward to increasing its innovative efforts and overall sales through Yaphe’s contribution.

“We’re very excited by the prospect of Howard Yaphe coming on board, says Lumentruss President and Founder Eric Audy. With his long track record of success in the lighting business, he is the ideal person to leverage our strengths, extend our portfolio of innovative products and spearhead our plans for growth, especially in the United States.”

A record of success based on innovation

Howard Yaphe has over 35 years of experience in the lighting industry, having served in executive positions at Canlyte, Lightolier, Philips and Axis Lighting, including Senior VP Manufacturing and Engineering, Chief Technology Officer and CEO. In addition to holding over 160 patents and patents pending relating to luminaire form and function, mechanical functionality, optics and integrated controls, he is the recipient of several prestigious luminaire design awards.

With Lumentruss committed to investing in accelerated growth, Yaphe’s role will involve expanding the Lumentruss technical team, as well as developing and launching innovative LED lighting technologies and platforms.

“Lumentruss already has the ambition to inspire designers and architects with a wide range of virtually invisible lighting instruments, says Yaphe. I’ll be focusing on implementing a higher level of innovation to create more design flexibility and added aesthetic freedom for lighting professionals. In short, I want to develop new ways to weave and control light in a space, to ultimately set the mood, inspire awe and elevate the human experience.”

Investing in accelerated growth

Over the next few years, Lumentruss expects to more than double its workforce, speed up its rate of product development and add significant value to its marketing effort in North America. Indeed, the company plans on investing several million dollars in its growth potential and its vision of becoming a highly valued source for architectural solutions using light as a building material. The appointment of Howard Yaphe is key to that undertaking.

“Innovation has always been my driver for success, says Yaphe, but you need to put everything in place to do it right. Throughout my career, I’ve successfully overcome many challenges when called upon to change a company’s trajectory and integrate processes that support a more innovation-intensive approach. I look forward to working closely with the Lumentruss team to enable our new path for profitable innovation.”

A respected lighting authority, Howard Yaphe is also a creative marketer and an innovation leader, favoring an agile method, a learn-it-all culture and an empathetic workplace.