Image Metrics, a provider of facial animation solutions for the entertainment industry, is aligning its operations into Video Game and Film & TV divisions to address the growing demand for its services in the two industries.
Image Metrics' Kelvin Duckett has been promoted to GM of the film group. Former Havok sales exec Brian Waddle is joining Image Metrics as GM of the games organization. In these newly-created positions, Duckett and Waddle will work directly with CEO Mike Starkenburg to expand business operations in their respective markets.
Having guided Image Metrics in various roles over the past several years including a term as the COO, Kelvin Duckett will now lead the Film and TV division as GM, where he will oversee global sales to feature film and visual effects studios, post production houses and broadcast customers. Duckett brings with him more than 20 years of experience working in the film industry. He has built, run and sold highly technical service companies such as 525 Post Productions (Hollywood), Virgin Mexico (Mexico City), Rushes (London), MediaLab (Paris) and POP & Post Logic Studios (Los Angeles). Trained as an editor, Duckett has worked for the BBC, ITN and ABC News. He has also worked extensively as a visual FX specialist on high-end commercials and music videos.
With Duckett's guidance, Image Metrics has recently debuted a beta program for film studios interested in incorporating the performance transfer portion of its facial animation technology into their internal production pipelines. In addition to its upcoming film projects, Image Metrics also showcased its facial animation capabilities in film at the SIGGRAPH 2008 tradeshow with a photo-real demo of a character named "Emily" that became recognized worldwide as a new achievement in CG believability.
Brian Waddle brings senior management expertise and a history of sales success to his role as General Manager of Video Games at Image Metrics. Before joining Image Metrics, Waddle was VP of Worldwide Sales & Marketing at Havok, where he oversaw global sales and marketing operations and channel development until the company's recent acquisition by Intel. Throughout his career, Waddle has served in a number of executive positions and has a proven track record of developing and executing global sales strategies, overseeing operations and expanding markets. Waddle also participated in the growth of a household name-brand consumer products company from a $200 million private entity to a $2.7 billion public corporation.
