WAC Group has appointed industry veteran Greg Barrett as its new director of commercial lighting systems. The strategic leadership announcement coincides with the organization’s recent launch of WAC Architectural, a new commercial specification-grade lighting brand that made its debut at the Light and Building trade fair in Frankfurt, Germany.
Barrett will play a role in shaping product strategy, education and marketing initiatives. His primary objective is to drive innovation and effectively bridge the gap between complex lighting technologies and design-driven applications in modern commercial environments.
“Inspired, exhilarated and humbled would be an understatement to describe my first few weeks with WAC Group,” Barrett says. “I am excited to realize the vision of what WAC Group is bringing to the world and honored to become a part of it.”
The introduction of WAC Architectural represents a significant expansion for the company, targeting the highly specialized needs of commercial specifiers and integrators.
“We received an outstanding response from lighting professionals worldwide at our launch of WAC Architectural at Light and Building in Frankfurt, Germany,” Barrett says. “To all my friends in the design, controls and integration world, I’m thrilled to continue to collaborate with you to create solutions for your projects and companies.”
A Foundation in Design and Technology
Barrett brings more than 20 years of experience in lighting and control systems to the organization. His career trajectory is deeply grounded in both the artistic elements of design and the technical requirements of modern integration. Before joining WAC Group, he held key roles at several prominent lighting and controls companies, including Savant, USAI Lighting and Ketra.
A recognized thought leader and forever a student of light, Barrett holds a master of fine arts in architectural lighting design from Parsons School of Design. He also earned a bachelor of fine arts in theatrical lighting design from Wright State University. He frequently shares his extensive industry knowledge with audiences around the world. He speaks at major industry events, such as LightFair, IALD Enlighten Americas, CEDIA Expo, Lightapalooza, KBIS, High Point XDesign and TecHome Builder Summits.
As the industry continues to see a rapid convergence of audiovisual technology and advanced lighting control, professionals with a deep understanding of both aesthetics and deployment practicalities are in high demand. Barrett’s background positions him to help integrators navigate these increasingly complex commercial specifications.
Driving the Future of Commercial Lighting
Earlier in his career, Barrett worked as a freelance lighting designer and theatrical electrician. During this foundational period, he collaborated with high-profile clients such as Disney, BET and The Public Theatre. This hands-on entertainment experience continues to inform his holistic approach to lighting design, specifically regarding its profound impact on human perception, emotion and overall health.
Beyond his corporate responsibilities, Barrett remains deeply committed to the future of the profession. He actively serves on the board of directors for the IALD Education Trust, dedicating his time to support the organization’s mission to advance lighting education on a global scale.
As WAC Group pushes forward with the global rollout of WAC Architectural, the company is positioning itself to capture a larger share of the commercial integration market. With Barrett leading the commercial lighting systems division, the organization is uniquely equipped to deliver sophisticated, specification-grade solutions that meet the evolving demands of modern architecture and system integration.
