Animation and visual effects house Pacific Data Images (PDI) has appointed industry veteran George Merkert as Executive Producer of the Motion Picture Visual Effects division. This decision comes on the heels of PDI’s announcement of their intention to grow their operation and core business capabilities beyond its present size and scope, and to further develop its traditional animation/visual effects support work with a new emphasis towards content creation. Merkert joins PDI from Sony Pictures Imageworks where he produced visual effects for “Godzilla,” “James and the Giant Peach,” and “Starship Troopers.” “I’m very pleased to join PDI, which has the talent to become a major contender in the visual effects business,” Merkert said. “It’s exhilarating to work with such a talented group of individuals and to help them realize their enormous potential.”