NEW YORK CITY — London-based Hogarth Worldwide (www.hogarthww.com), a global advertising implementation agency, has acquired Coda, a New York City-based VFX boutique, known for high-end CG, motion graphics and beauty retouching. The acquisition is part of the company’s continuing effort to broaden their capabilities and expertise in advertising production and adaptation.
Coda has been around for 16 years, working on campaigns for brands that include L’Oréal, CoverGirl, Victoria’s Secret and Procter & Gamble. The team of artists now bring their specialization to Hogarth North America’s headquarters in Manhattan.
Hogarth’s new team will fall within Gramercy Park Studios, the creative services arm of Hogarth Worldwide, and will focus on executing project-driven creative work, coming from Hogarth’s own production pipeline, as well as from external agencies and brands. The expansion of Gramercy Park Studios’ video post production talent comes on the heels of bringing in New York-based audio engineer and sound designer Chris Afzal, and editor Vee Pinot from GPS London.
Coda founder/design director Paul Agid leads the team. His career started at VFX company R/GA, and was followed by residencies at Editel, Click 3X, and Blink FX, prior to opening Coda with executive producer Evan Sanyour. Also having held roles at Editel and Blink FX, Sanyour rooted his career in advertising production at Grey New York before turning his focus to post production. Rounding out the roster are motion design director Mike Nutt and 3D generalist Dmitry Grigorev.
"We’re excited to be part of expanding Hogarth’s creative capabilities in New York,” says Agid. “We’re joining a solid team that’s already in place, and will have the added ability to partner with other Hogarth VFX teams from around the globe.”
Audio engineer Chris Afzal developed his career at J. Walter Thompson New York’s in-house post studio. He later moved to Charlex to design and lead their audio department, and then to Sound Lounge. His credits include work for Under Armour, PlayStation, Cadillac and Tylenol.
Vee Pinot has cut music videos, shorts and feature films, promos and, most significantly, commercials. She helped establish and grew Gramercy Park Studios London (Hogarth’s first high-end post-production facility), before moving to GPS New York. Her advertising credits include the British Heart Foundation’s award-winning online content and work for Chevrolet, Heinz, Pantene and Hugo Boss.
“We are very happy that Hogarth New York is attracting this level of creative talent,” says Mariusz Urbanczyk, managing director of Hogarth North America. “Each of these additions represents yet another step closer to what we want GPS New York to be famous for: Flawless execution and best-in-class talent, who are great to work with.”
Pictured (L-R): Paul Agid and Evan Sanyour