David Labuskes, CEO of AVIXA, announced plans to retire at the end of 2026, concluding more than a decade leading the global audiovisual industry association.
Labuskes has served as CEO since 2012, overseeing a period of significant change as the audiovisual industry expanded beyond products and systems toward integrated experiences that connect people across markets and environments. During his tenure, the industry grew to include experiential designers, content creators, IT companies and end users across a broad range of sectors.
That evolution led to the 2017 rebrand of InfoComm International as AVIXA, the Audiovisual and Integrated Experience Association.
“I would have never predicted the level of personal growth and fulfillment that accompanied these many years at the helm of AVIXA,” said Labuskes. “The audiovisual industry has been a part of human evolution since the use of signal fires in early civilization. The association now known as AVIXA was established in 1939, well before most of us were born. The responsibility and privilege inherent within the role I played for a tiny part of that timeline was one that could not have been fulfilled without the brilliance of the team of executives, industry volunteers, and dedicated AVIXA employees giving everything they have to deliver on our mission every day. I look forward to being in the stands watching the future successes of AVIXA and our industry around the world.”
Global expansion was a key focus during Labuskes’ tenure. More than 50 percent of AVIXA’s revenue is now generated outside North America through training, trade shows, certifications and other offerings. Audience growth has also been strongest outside North America, reflecting the association’s increasingly global reach.
AVIXA certifications continued to expand under Labuskes’ leadership. In 2025, the number of Certified Technology Specialist credential holders reached 15,000 worldwide. In 2024, AVIXA launched the Audiovisual Network Professional certification to support professionals integrating AV into networked environments. Today, 30 percent of AVIXA certification holders are located outside North America.
Labuskes also championed diversity initiatives within the association, including the establishment of AVIXA’s Women’s Council and Diversity Council. The Women’s Council has grown to more than 1,100 members and hosts an annual breakfast at InfoComm in North America.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Labuskes led AVIXA through widespread event cancellations and disruptions across the AV industry. The association introduced new digital engagement platforms and reimagined its global trade shows and conferences to support remote and hybrid participation.
“On behalf of the AVIXA Board of Directors, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to David for everything he has done for AVIXA over the past 13 years,” said Tobias Lang, Chair of the AVIXA Board of Directors and CEO of LANG AG. “His vision and leadership have been instrumental in establishing the audiovisual industry as a globally relevant profession with a strong and positive outlook for the future. David not only helped redefine what our industry stands for, he also built an exceptional leadership team and a culture that is both value-driven and uniquely collaborative.
“The AVIXA Board has already begun the search for his successor, and we are confident that this exciting, attractive, and demanding role will be filled in a way that reflects the challenges and opportunities of a rapidly changing world. I would also like to encourage all members of our global community to use the upcoming Integrated Systems Europe show and all international AVIXA events as opportunities to personally thank David Labuskes for his remarkable contributions to the association and to our industry.”
Before joining AVIXA, Labuskes spent nearly 14 years with RTKL Associates, now part of Arcadis, where he established the firm’s Technology Design practice and later served on the board during its merger with Arcadis in 2011.
