Image Metrics Appoints Michael Starkenburg as Chief Operating Officer

LOS ANGELES--(Business Wire)--
Image Metrics, the leading developer of performance-driven
computer generated (CG) facial animation in video games and film,
today announced that it has appointed Michael Starkenburg to the
position of Chief Operating Officer. Starkenburg, who has served as a
consultant to Image Metrics for the past year, will provide leadership
for all operations of the company in the United States and United
Kingdom.

"Consumers are demanding high-quality, believable CG content,
while studios are searching for more cost-effective ways of meeting
that demand," said Starkenburg. "Image Metrics is perfectly positioned
to help studios balance these needs with its innovative
performance-driven facial animation technology and its extensive
experience in both film production and game development."

"I wholeheartedly welcome Mike on board to help us grow the
company and maximize its immense potential," said Kelvin Duckett, who
has recently been promoted to Executive Vice President of Image
Metrics. "Mike's knowledge of structuring companies for accelerated
growth dovetails perfectly with my background of running production
facilities. I believe our combined forces will be able to push facial
animation to a level previously unattainable in the film, TV and games
sectors."

Before joining Image Metrics, Starkenburg was an executive advisor
to both private equity firms and technology companies. He has broad
experience in growing companies, having managed and scaled operations
as well as provided vision for technological development. Starkenburg
was a Technology Partner at the Sprout Group, a venture capital fund,
served as the CTO of Gemstar-TVGuide and held various senior
management positions at Advantix, Inc, Outpost.com, and America
Online. He earned an B.A. in International Business from The George
Washington University.

About Image Metrics

Image Metrics brings digital characters to life. Providing the
entertainment industry's first and only marker and makeup free
performance-driven facial animation solution, Image Metrics is
creating some of the most emotionally compelling animated characters
in computer-generated media today. Developed over the past seven years
by a team of computer vision Ph.D.s, the process enjoys widespread
adoption by some of the best known production studios in the
entertainment world, including Digital Domain, Activision, EA, Rhythm
and Hues, Rockstar Games and Sony Imageworks. The company is located
in Santa Monica, California, with R&D headquarters in Manchester, U.K.

Bender/Helper Impact
Shannon McPhee, 310-473-4147
shannon_mcphee@bhimpact.com

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