GatesAir has strengthened its international sales team by hiring Carlos Lira Valdez as a regional sales leader for the northern CALA market. Reporting to David Hopson, Senior Regional Director for CALA, Lira will oversee GatesAir’s business development activities across Mexico, Central America, and parts of the Caribbean.
Background and Experience
Lira brings nearly 25 years of experience in media and entertainment, with a strong focus on RF technologies. He started his career as a support engineer at TV Azteca and later moved to Harris Corporation in 2011 as a regional pre-sales engineer, where he worked closely with CALA broadcasters.
When Harris divested its broadcast division to form GatesAir, Lira left the company but returned several years later. During his career hiatus, he gained valuable sales management and business development experience with Rymsa RF and Jampro Antennas.
Expertise in CALA Market
Lira’s return to GatesAir comes with a deep understanding of high-efficiency RF technologies and broadcast standards across the region. He has established strong relationships with many of GatesAir’s channel partners, making him well-suited for his new role.
“GatesAir provides me with exceptional products and knowledgeable in-country partners that offer local support to our customers,” Lira said. “There are significant opportunities in CALA to help TV and FM broadcasters refresh existing transmission infrastructure and transition analog systems to digital television.”
Future Opportunities
Lira sees potential for GatesAir’s Intraplex business unit, noting that Audio over IP adoption remains in its early stages in CALA. He plans to leverage his experience working with antennas, filters, and auxiliary RF systems to assist customers in preparing for digital transitions or infrastructure updates.
“We’re excited to welcome Carlos into the GatesAir family,” Hopson said. “His expertise in transition timelines, government regulations, and business cultures across different countries will be invaluable as we continue to grow our presence in the region.”