The industry veteran will take charge of strategy, operations and creative production across the growing company’s 5 studios and for client relationships internationally.
Adrianna "AJ" Cohen has been named president of film and episodic VFX at Untold Studios, taking charge of the visual effects business across the company's five studios in Los Angeles, New York, Toronto, London and Mumbai.
Cohen assumes responsibility for strategy, operations and creative production across that network, and for client relationships internationally.
"AJ's appointment is a major statement of ambition for Untold," said Darren O'Kelly, CEO and co-founder of Untold Studios. "Our Film & Episodic team has already delivered extraordinary work across some of the most complex and high-profile projects in the market. We now have an opportunity to build on that momentum and create something genuinely distinctive for directors, filmmakers, studios, streamers and VFX supervisors."
He continued, "We are an independent studio, powered by artistry and fueled by next-generation technology. That combination allows us to be creatively ambitious, deeply collaborative and incredibly agile. AJ brings the leadership, experience and energy to help us scale globally, while protecting the creative culture that makes Untold special."
Cohen arrives from a run of animation and visual effects leadership roles, at Blue Sky Studios, Fox Animation and Mikros Animation. She also spent time at McKinsey & Company.
"Untold has built something rare - a truly global studio with the spirit, speed and creative intimacy of an independent," said Cohen. "The work is ambitious, the talent is exceptional, and the technology is there to unlock better creative outcomes."
Untold's film and episodic division has recently delivered Remarkably Bright Creatures, the Emmy-nominated Alien: Earth and Sonic the Hedgehog 4, and its earlier credits include The Boys. The studio opened a Toronto location this year and has been expanding across North America, the UK and India.
"What excites me is the opportunity to build on the success already achieved by the Film & Episodic team and help shape the next chapter," Cohen added. "Filmmakers and VFX supervisors are looking for partners who can bring curated teams, world-class craft, flexibility, transparency and trust. Untold is incredibly well positioned to deliver that."
Cohen joins a senior film and episodic team that includes Christopher Gray, Luke Groves, Aaron Weintraub, Chris Ritvo, Pete Jopling and Sara Bennett, the Oscar-winning visual effects supervisor Untold hired in June.
Source: Untold Studios, via Deadline, SHOOTonline and Televisual
Dan Sarto is Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network.
