People on the Move

Amazon is adding artificial intelligence visionary Andrew Ng to its board of directors, a move that comes amid intense AI competition among startups and big technology companies.

The Seattle company said Thursday that Ng, a managing director at the Palo Alto, California-based AI Fund, will replace a seat vacated by Judy McGrath, a former CEO of MTV who told Amazon she won't run for reelection.

Ng's AI Fund, which he founded in 2017, invests in entrepreneurs building artificial intelligence companies. Previously, he led AI teams at the Chinese tech company Baidu and Google, where the team he oversaw taught a computer system to recognize cats in YouTube videos without ever being taught what a cat was.

Ng's addition to the board comes as Amazon, like other tech companies, makes massive investments in generative artificial intelligence. The company has invested $4 billion in the San Francisco-based startup Anthropic, which is partnering with Amazon to develop so-called foundation models that underpin generative AI technologies. In the past year, Amazon also rolled out a chatbot for businesses called Q and a generative-AI powered shopping assistant named Rufus.

In an annual shareholder letter released Thursday, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy suggested generative AI could be the next big pillar of Amazon's business, joining the company's prominent online marketplace, Prime subscription program and its cloud computing unit, AWS. Jassy wrote that generative AI may be the largest technological transformation since cloud computing, and "perhaps since the internet."

Meanwhile, other Amazon innovations have encountered some hiccups. The company said last week it was pulling its Just Walk Out technology from Amazon Fresh stores in the U.S. after receiving some customer feedback. Amazon said it was replacing the technology, which allows customers to skip the checkout line, with smart carts that would allow them still to do that but also see their spending in real time.

Nadia Dabibi has joined Harbor as executive producer, advertising color. Dabibi brings a wealth of experience and expertise to her new role, facilitating the creative process and having honed her skills in color grading and visual effects to deliver high caliber content.

Dabibi will be based out of the Santa Monica studios and will be heading production and growth for advertising color in North America. 

She has worked with agencies such as Energy BBDO, Apple, Disney, Leo Burnett, VaynerMedia, and Thinks Motive, and brands including Asics, NuContext, Framestore, Dominos, Oakley, Fortnite, Cadillac and Mountain Dew. 

Dabibi’s recent credits include the Nerds Super Bowl commercial, the “Sorry Not Sorry” music video for Tyler, The Creator, and Corona’s “Snoop Dogg & Andy Samberg.”

Prior to joining Harbor, Dabibi held roles at Company 3, Disney Imagineering, Apple, Fox Studios, Paramount, Sony, and Warner Brothers.

Visual effects studio Artjail has promoted Christoph Schröer from VFX supervisor to creative director/partner of its New York studio. 

Schröer began his career at some of the largest visual effects studios in Germany and Switzerland, where he worked on multiple Mercedes-Benz spots, two global Volkswagen campaign launches, and BMW’s “Rev Up Your Family.” He was sought out by The Mill and brought over to the U.S. in 2016 to be a sr. compositor and VFX supervisor. There, he led VFX teams for high-profile clients such as Samsung, Visa, and Cartier, even working on Nissan’s extensive Tech Drive 360 VR experience.

The past two decades for Schröer have included collaborations with directors like Tarsem Singh, Rupert Sanders, and Jonah Hill, and DPs Robert Elswit, Darius Khondji, and Greig Fraser. Schröer has earned industry recognition for numerous projects time and time again. Highlights include Hennessy’s “Major,” a Super Bowl spot directed by Derek Cianfrance which made the Cannes Lions shortlist for Best VFX while winning a Bronze Clio and ADC acknowledgment, as well as Icelandic electro pop band aYia’s abstract and cinematic “Easy” music video from Salomon Lighthelm, selected for a Stash Best of and Vimeo Staff Pick. Up next is a Mercedes campaign from Merkley+Partners and director Cokau, made with a spread of cutting edge tech.

Schröer commented, “The Artjail team is one of the best I’ve ever worked with: an amazing mix of talent and genuinely good people whose collaborative spirit is palpable both within the studio and in their challenging work. Pivotally, Artjail has given me creative freedom and exposure to innovative projects which have sharpened my technical skills, broadened my creative horizons, and strengthened my leadership abilities--all further refined by an emphasis on feedback and continuous learning. Its unique approach is one that resonates deeply with me, supporting creative control by assigning one or two people to spearhead VFX from start to finish, and working closely with the agency, director, DP, and production designer to bring ideas to life.”

Steve Mottershead, Artjail executive creative director/founding partner, added, “Christoph is the ideal figure to spearhead our most significant projects and teams. His unparalleled creative and technical skills are matched only by his ability to lead by example, driving every project and team he is a part of towards excellence in the most motivating manner. From internal teams to clients alike, he’s earned widespread admiration and respect. This promotion is not only a recognition of his contributions but also a testament to the pivotal role we foresee for him at Artjail.”

John Skeffington, Artjail managing director/partner, said, “Christoph has pushed the Artjail brand since his arrival. His artistry is top notch, his work ethic lifts everyone around him to greater heights, and he’s always shown a level of leadership by example that you would desire in a partner. As Artjail continues to grow its footprint and offerings, it’s the right time to bring another set of fresh ideas and eyes to the leadership team in New York.”

Production and post studio Harbor has added sr. colorist Bob Festa to its talent roster. Festa will be based out of Harbor’s Santa Monica, Culver City, and Hollywood studios and is also available to clients globally through Harbor’s network spanning New York, London, Chicago, and Atlanta.

Festa, recognized as a leading colorist, brings with him a wealth of experience and accolades. He was recently a finalist for the 2022 HPA Awards in the category of Best Episodic Television Color for his work on the hit series “Yellowstone.” Festa also received DaVinci’s “Master Colorist Award” as the “Commercial Colorist of the Year.” 

Notable television credits include Paramount+’s “Lawmen: Bass Reeves,” Disney+’s “The Mysterious Benedict Society,” Peacock’s “One of Us Is Lying,” Starz’s ”Power Book IV: Force,” Marvel’s “Runaways,” and TNT’s “The Last Ship.”

Festa has worked on iconic national ad campaigns for leading brands such as, Coca-Cola, Levi’s, American Express, Lexus, Samsung, Verizon, McDonald’s, and Toyota, and blue-chip agencies David&Goliath, Innocean USA, RPA, Saatchi & Saatchi, Team One, TBWA, Goodby, Silverstein and Partners, Wieden + Kennedy, WPP, Ogilvy & Mather, McCann Worldgroup, Dentsu, and Leo Burnett.

Festa remarked, “I am thrilled to be part of the Harbor family and to collaborate with some of the most talented creatives in the industry. Harbor’s commitment to excellence and innovation aligns perfectly with my own values, and I look forward to contributing to the continued success of the studio.”

Harbor CEO Zak Tucker said, “Harbor’s vision empowers filmmakers globally, emphasizing artistry, boutique service, and enterprise-level infrastructure. Bob’s proven track record of delivering exceptional artistic quality combined with outstanding service aligns perfectly with our goals. His esteemed reputation and trusted industry relationships are poised to enhance Harbor’s filmmaking community, advancing our mission of fostering and supporting filmmakers.”