Framestore has named Grant Walker and Ahmed Gharraph to serve as joint heads of CG in London. The two will sit alongside Ross Burgess, head of animation, in the leadership of the creative studio’s advertising, television and immersive entertainment work.
The appointment marks the return of Gharraph to Framestore after a two-year stint at ILM, where he was lead FX artist on Star Wars: The Last Jedi, receiving a VES nomination in Outstanding Effects Simulations in a Photoreal Feature. His credits advertising-side as CG supervisor include “Mog’s Christmas Calamity,” Sainsbury’s highly successful and award-winning 2015 festive campaign; and Shell V-Power’s “Shapeshifter,” directed by Carl Erik Rinsch.
Grant has been promoted to his new capacity. He joined Framestore in 2009, and in his time at the company has worked across film, advertising and television, building a noteworthy portfolio as a CG artist with campaigns including the VES-nominated Freesat’s “Sheldon”; he was also instrumental in Framestore’s digital recreation of Audrey Hepburn in Galaxy’s 2013 campaign “Chauffeur” for AMV BBDO. Most recently, he was BAFTA-nominated for his creature work in the Black Mirror episode, “Playtest.”
Drawing on their shared extensive experience the duo will lead a fast-growing team, upholding the highest quality standards in visual effects across multiple media platforms. Working closely with Burgess, they will push to create more award-winning work for Framestore, in a period of increasing project diversity and range.
Helen Stanley, managing director, integrated advertising worldwide, said, “It’s a pleasure to welcome Ahmed back to Framestore and to have such a strong joint leadership in place for our rapidly growing VFX team working across Advertising, Television and Immersive Entertainment. The breadth and depth of projects we are currently working across is not only exciting, but continually pushes us to raise our creative game in brilliant ways. With Grant, Ahmed and Ross at the fore, I’m confident that the quality of our output will go from strength to strength.”
