Search form

Cinesite Names Shawn Walsh Group Chief Operation Officer VFX

17+ year Image Engine veteran and general manager steps up to helm visual effects production across the company and its partner studios including Image Engine, FX3X, and Trixter.

Cinesite has named Shawn Walsh Group Chief Operation Officer VFX to lead VFX divisions across the company and partner studios Image Engine, FX3X, and Trixter. In his new role, he will drive all aspects of VFX production, client relations, and business development out of the studio’s Vancouver location where he will work closely with heads of studio and chief business development officer Drew Jones.

For the past 17 years, Walsh served on the senior management team at Image Engine, which was acquired by Cinesite in 2015. In 2016 Walsh was named general manager, becoming instrumental in developing a diverse range of clients including Netflix; HBO; Amazon; Walt Disney Pictures; Marvel Entertainment; Warner Bros. Pictures; Legendary Studios; Lionsgate Entertainment; and MRC Studios. Most recently, he executive produced the visual effects for Image Engine’s contribution to Game of Thrones; Spider-Man: Far From Home; Carnival Row; Lost in Space; The Mandalorian; and Mulan.

Since joining Imagine Engine in 2005 Walsh became a partner, and compiled an extensive roster of credits including The Incredible Hulk; District 9; The Twilight Saga: Eclipse; White House Down; and   Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Prior to that, Walsh spent several years abroad where he served as a senior lighting technical director and compositor at Rhythm and Hues, The Moving Picture Company, and ESC Entertainment. He is a member of the Steering Committee for the Animation & Visual Effects Alliance of BC and a member of the Visual Effects Society. 

“Being part of the Cinesite group for the past 8 years has been a fantastic opportunity for me to experience the inner workings of a dynamic and industry leading entertainment service studio,” shared Walsh. “Our industry has evolved dramatically in the last few years, and Cinesite has positioned itself well to capitalize on exciting new opportunities... I am extremely proud to be joining a global team that is continuously pushing the boundaries in visual effects.”

“We’ve been building to deliver the best VFX work at global scale by integrating our worldwide production across Cinesite, Image Engine, FX3X, and Trixter facilities,” said Cinesite group CEO Antony Hunt. “We’re excited to have Shawn’s experience bringing that unified force to studios as our capacity combined with creative and technical excellence continues to grow. With his ability to scale VFX production while keeping creative quality at the highest level, there’s no one better to lead those efforts.”

Cinesite has grown from a single branded multi-site studio in London, Montreal, and Vancouver to a global network of brands home to approximately 3,000 employees working across studios in London, Montreal, Vancouver (Cinesite), Berlin & Munich (Trixter) Belgrade and Skopje (FX3X), as well as Mumbai based Assemblage Entertainment and Vancouver based Image Engine.

The Cinesite group of companies is currently in production on projects including Foundation S2 (Apple); Road House (MGM); The Fall Guy (Universal); A Haunting in Venice (20th Century Studios); The Witcher S3; Lift & 3 Body Problem (Netflix); The Marvels (Marvel Studios); Ahsoka (Lucasfilm); Kraven the Hunter (Sony Pictures Entertainment); Animal Farm (Aniventure & Imaginarium); Iwaju (Walt Disney Animation); and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, and Smurfs (Paramount Animation).

Source: Cinesite

Debbie Diamond Sarto's picture

Debbie Diamond Sarto is news editor at Animation World Network.