People on the Move

Deluxe has named long-time media technology executive Craig Zerouni to serve as head of technology, Deluxe Visual Effects (VFX). In this role Zerouni will focus on continuing to unify software development and systems architecture across Deluxe’s Method studios in Los Angeles, Vancouver, New York, and India, and its Iloura studios in Sydney and Melbourne, as well as Deluxe VR, based in Los Angeles, to integrate and expand global production capacity.

Based in Los Angeles and reporting to president and GM of Deluxe VFX and VR Ed Ulbrich, Zerouni will lead VFX and VR R&D and software development teams and systems worldwide, working closely with technology teams across Deluxe’s Creative division to benefit from and contribute to the deep pool of IP, knowledge, and resources across the global Deluxe technology organization.

Ulbrich said, “Our VFX work serves both the features world, which is increasingly global, and the advertising community, which is increasingly local. Behind the curtain at Method, Iloura, and Deluxe in general, we have been working to integrate our studios to give clients the ability to tap into integrated global capacity, technology and talent anywhere in the world, while offering a high-quality local experience. Craig’s experience leading global technology organizations and distributed development teams, and building and integrating pipelines is right in line with our focus. He has done amazing work improving workflow and optimizing systems at VFX and animation companies of all sizes, and he’s a great team leader.”

Zerouni has been working in media technology and production for nearly three decades, joining Deluxe most recently from DreamWorks, where he was Director of Technology at its Bangalore, India facility overseeing all technology. Prior to that he spent nine years at Digital Domain, where he was first head of R&D responsible for software strategy and teams in five locations across three countries, then sr. director of technology overseeing all aspects of technology including software, systems, production technology, technical directors and media systems. He has also directed engineering, products and teams at software/tech companies Silicon Grail, Side Effects Software, and Critical Path, and was a co-founder of pioneering London computer animation company CFX. Zerouni’s work has contributed to features including TRON: Legacy, Iron Man 3, Maleficent, X-Men: Days of Future Past, and Ender’s Game as well as more than 400 commercials, TV idents and titles. He is a member of BAFTA, ACM/SIGGRAPH, IEEE, the Visual Effects Society, has served on the AMPAS Digital Imaging Technology Subcommittee, and is the author of the technical reference book “Houdini on the Spot.” 

Zerouni said, “I’m excited to come on board with Deluxe right at this time--the company is expanding and integrating its VFX studios around the world and what comes through strongly is a commitment to growth and innovation. There’s a great opportunity to harness all of the worldwide VFX talent and technology skill sets across these companies to support clients on an even bigger, broader scale.”

Artists from Iloura have been recognized with Academy Award nominations for Visual Effects two years running, for Mad Max: Fury Road and Deepwater Horizon, and earned the 2016 VFX Emmy Award for work on Game of Thrones. Recent work from Method Studios includes VFX Academy Award-nominated Doctor Strange, along with Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Captain America: Civil War, and award-winning commercials. Method is currently in production on Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Knights of the Round Table: King Arthur and other features and advertising projects.

Andy Giles has been hired to serve as managing director of Funworks, a San Francisco ad agency that uses a blend of social science and sketch comedy to guide corporate executives to innovative creative quickly and cost-effectively. 

Giles has spent more than 15 years winning and delivering key branding and advertising engagements for shops including ATTIK and MetaDesign. He has worked with brands including Intel/McAfee, Toyota, Samsung, the New York Philharmonic, along with high-growth startups such as 23andMe and Automatic. In his new role as managing director at Funworks, Giles will be responsible for overseeing client relations, finance operations and business development.
 
Giles began his career at ATTIK where he helped launch Toyota’s Scion brand and led campaigns for Sony, Lexus, and the NFL. He also spent time at MetaDesign and Method, leading strategic branding and digital experience initiatives for clients ranging from tech startups to global brands.  Andy was a finalist for the Cannes Cyber Lions award, as well as a Webby Awards finalist, and a winner of the MI6 Integrated Campaign Gold Award.
 
Funworks is rapidly expanding and in his new role, Giles will be instrumental in scaling the firm to meet the needs of increased client demand. Funworks has produced high profile work for clients such as Pandora, SodaStream, Ubisoft, Credit Karma, Virgin America, Microsoft, HP and Clorox.

Young & Laramore (Y&L) has hired Kyle Klinger as sr. art director, and Jane Brannen and Aiden McKiernan as writers. 

Before joining the Indianapolis-based creative agency, Klinger was at 180LA where he worked with such clients as Expedia, Pepsi, HP, and The Motion Picture Academy. Throughout his career he worked with many leading brands including Sony, Mitsubishi, Adidas, Procter & Gamble, and Match.com. At Y&L, Klinger will work with clients including KraftMaid Cabinetry.
 
Brannen will be working with clients including Brizo Faucets and KraftMaid Cabinetry at Y&L. Prior to joining the agency, she worked at Pivot Marketing with local brands including Visit Bloomington, Arts Council of Indianapolis, and the Indiana Donor Network.
 
McKiernan will be working with clients including Schlage and Farm Bureau Insurance at Y&L. Before joining the team, McKiernan worked at VSA Partners, Detroit, where he worked with brands including Harley-Davidson, Cleveland Clinic, Cache Valley Cheese and Alibaba.  

Camp+King (C+K) has added editor Prav Potu, designer Joey Faccio and visual designer Justin Marimon to its ensemble of talent.
 
Potu has worked on everything from commercial projects to documentary films. He has had a busy freelance career for the past four years editing for AKQA, Eleven Inc., West SF and several other local agencies. From 2011 to 2013, he was editor at BBDO San Francisco, where he filmed and edited content, prepared agency content for pitches and created award case studies.
 
After graduating from Ringling College of Art and Design as its trustee scholar, Faccio moved west to pursue ad/design agency and freelance opportunities. Five years later, Faccio has a portfolio filled with designs for clients such as Toyota, Under Armour, MTV Networks, Microsoft, ABC, Bacardi, Lexus and G-Eazy.  
 
Marimon joins C+K after a recent move to the Bay Area from the Midwest. A multi-talented designer with four-plus years of experience, he has worked with industrial designers, branding studios and commercial photographers to create iconic imagery and design solutions. Marimon is passionate about exploring new mediums and hopes to expand his skills to include 3D rendering and animation.
 
“We’re stoked to have Joey, Justin and Prav on board. They each bring a skill set that’ll elevate the work we do here at C+K,” said creative director Rikesh Lal.