How Pharos Lights Up the World's Stages and Skylines

Image: Chris Hunt, current CFO of Carallon and co-founder of Pharos Architectural Controls

This is the first in our new series, Behind the Light, where we interview C-level executives about their company and its history. Editor Randy Reid interviews Pharos Architectural Controls co-founder, Chris Hunt.

Randy Reid: Can you share the story behind the inception of Carallon and the evolution to Pharos?

Chris Hunt: Certainly. It's quite the tale, starting at Flying Pig Systems, an iconic lighting controls manufacturer in live entertainment. I joined Flying Pig in 2000 and was fortunate to meet and work alongside industry gurus Nick Archdale and Richard Mead, while they were working on projects for the likes of Sting, the Rolling Stones and Madonna. In 2004, we started Carallon with four other key engineers to channel our collective expertise into product development, which naturally progressed into the birth of Pharos for architectural lighting control.

Randy Reid: How does the relationship with ETC enhance Pharos' presence?

Chris Hunt: In a strategic move, we partnered with ETC to OEM our product line for distribution in North America. The essence of the Pharos brand remains intact; however, these products wear the ETC Mosaic label. A cornerstone of our philosophy at Pharos is our commitment to exemplary support — it's fundamental and perhaps sounds like a platitude, but the longevity and reliability of control products hinges on this. ETC upholds this principle by ensuring that each project they do is equally well-supported. This relationship has only strengthened over time and we’ll always be grateful to them for helping us to reach new markets in those early days.

Randy Reid: Back in 2004, what was at the technological heart of your control systems?

Chris Hunt: The era of LEDs was just dawning, and our roots in entertainment lighting infused Pharos with a sense of durability and user-friendly software. It's about making sure our systems can talk to just about anything, be it mobile phones or wind speed sensors, which was quite ground-breaking at the time. Our focus was clear from the start: to captivate and illuminate themed entertainment spaces like theme parks, as well as to bring life to the structural artistry of bridges and building exteriors. A particularly strong market for us has emerged in the form of stadium and arena lighting. Our roots in entertainment lighting gave us a valuable perspective on the need for reliability and resilience in our product designs, ensuring that both our hardware and software could withstand the rigours of dynamic environments.

Randy Reid: What sets Carallon and Pharos apart?

Chris Hunt: Carallon and Pharos are distinct entities, yet intertwined by their origins and leadership. Nick, Richard, and I continue to play integral roles in both companies, fostering growth and guiding their direction. Our involvement with Pharos, though it originated from Carallon, has evolved. Over time, Pharos has flourished into an independent entity, proudly standing on the strength of its own innovations in architectural lighting control. At the helm of Pharos now is Simon Hicks, alongside a dedicated senior management team, steering the company with autonomy. While Richard and I have shifted towards a more non-executive presence, we have gradually entrusted the company's legacy to a capable new generation of leadership.

Pharos focuses on the architectural side, whereas Carallon is a melting pot of innovation for entertainment and architectural lighting solutions, advanced video processing technologies, and more. Pharos leverages Carallon for much of its R&D, and the crafting of our products happens right here in London.

Randy Reid: Speaking of London, is that where all your manufacturing magic happens?

Chris Hunt: Almost all of it, yes. It’s not the cheapest route, but it assures reliability and lends a certain prestige to our products.

Randy Reid: As you look at expanding, how do you navigate new product avenues and markets?

Chris Hunt: We've charted a course distinct from that of other lighting manufacturers; our focus is solely on developing control solutions and products that complement rather than compete. This approach allows us to maintain a product line that's compatible across the board—agnostic, as we like to say. We stand as an independent entity, owned largely by an ensemble of shareholders who are actively engaged in the company's daily operations. This independence is not just about ownership; it translates into the freedom to collaborate across the industry's expanse. Organic growth has been our chosen path, steering clear of external investment. This decision might have tempered the speed of our expansion, but it's also what has afforded us the agility to navigate the diverse landscape of architectural lighting with the kind of autonomy that only true independence can offer.

Randy Reid: With the rise of companies like Ephesus, a division of Cooper Lighting Solutions in arenas, how does Pharos fit into the larger control solutions picture?

Chris Hunt: While many manufacturers offer control solutions, Pharos positions itself a notch above, catering to installations that require a higher level of sophistication and control. We acknowledge that the features and pricing of our solutions might surpass the needs of standard lighting setups. However, Pharos truly shines when the demand for complexity and advanced control arises — that's our niche. As such, arena lighting is a growing market for Pharos.

ETC has also had great success in arena and stadium lighting with ETC Mosaic. ETC resonates strongly with themed entertainment and theme parks, which align with their expertise and focus, but the fundamentals are highly transferrable to arena lighting, particularly where there’s an element of performance involved.

We’ve also been involved on citywide lighting projects in places like Guangzhou, Wuhan and Shanghai, which exemplify our capacity to handle large-scale, interconnected systems, illuminating multiple structures within a coordinated cityscape. These projects not only underline our expertise but also mark the successful reach of our solutions.

Randy Reid: What's on the horizon for Pharos in terms of growth?

Chris Hunt: Looking ahead, we're pivoting to explore other sectors, such as in hospitality, corporate and standardised building control, where our newly developed 'Expert' product range will come into play. This range is engineered to be more user-friendly and cost-effective, allowing us to engage with markets that require simpler solutions without compromising the quality Pharos is known for. Our goal is to form strategic alliances to penetrate these sectors further, leveraging Expert as a gateway to new opportunities.

Randy Reid: How pivotal are lighting designers in Pharos’ strategy?

Chris Hunt: The significance of lighting designers in our projects can be substantial; it varies based on the complexity and profile of the project. For high-visibility venues like stadiums, airports, and landmark shopping centres, their expertise becomes crucial. In such settings, they're not only essential for crafting the visual narrative but also for specifying the nuanced lighting schemes that bring these spaces to life — that's where Pharos often gets the call.

We look beyond our direct channels of distributors and manufacturers and make concerted efforts to engage with leading lighting designers across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Our relationships with these creative professionals are key, as they're familiar with the advanced capabilities of Pharos systems and will often specify our products for projects that demand sophisticated and intricate lighting solutions.

Randy Reid: Looking globally, how do you perceive the trajectory of the lighting industry?

Chris Hunt: It's on a thrilling path of growth, adapting to environmental needs, which plays right into our hands at Pharos. We're all about adapting to these exciting changes, focusing on intelligent lighting management. It’s an exhilarating time to be in lighting control.

As our enlightening conversation with Chris Hunt drew to a close, we were left with a vivid image of Pharos' journey — from a seed of innovation at Carallon to a beacon of architectural lighting control. With a deep-seated belief in collaboration, quality, and support, Chris Hunt and the Pharos team are not just navigating the current landscape but actively sculpting the face of lighting.