VFX Giant Digital Domain Taps Sudhir Reddy as President (Exclusive)

Sudhir Reddy has been named the new president of Digital Domain, the VFX company behind Avengers: Endgame, Dune and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

Reddy will report to CEO and chairman of the Board William Wong. Over his 27-year career in VFX, Reddy helped shepherd Digital Domain’s international expansion. He was head of digital studio of the company’s Hyderabad, India location and managed the Vancouver and Montreal offices. Before joining Digital Domain, he held creative roles at studios in India and Flux Animation in New Zealand before transitioning to a management position at Reliance MediaWorks, one of India’s leading media and entertainment companies, overseeing large-scale VFX pipelines handled by cross-border teams.

In a statement, Reddy said the company under his leadership will “concentrate on our core expertise, specifically innovative VFX for feature films and episodic content.” He added, “We aim to build a strong platform that supports our ongoing growth and innovation, uniquely combining our creative talent and technology to set ourselves apart in the industry.”

Reddy’s appointment follows the exit of former president and COO Lala Gavgavian, who had been with the company for 18 years. The leadership change was made by the company’s board of directors and key investors.

“This was not a decision we made lightly,” Wong said in a statement. “We are confident that Sudhir’s unique combination of creative insight and operational expertise positions him to guide Digital Domain through its next phase of growth.”

The announcement may nod to headwinds in VFX, which has long operated on tight margins, amid the rise of generative artificial intelligence. Earlier this year, Technicolor, a legacy VFX brand and parent of MPC, folded after announcing “severe financial challenges” and a failed bid at finding new investors.

Digital Domain is among the biggest players in VFX, trailing only the likes of ILM, Weta and DNEG, among a few others.

Digital Domain evp of VFX business Gabrielle Gourrier and executive producer & head of production Eric Kimelton will report to Reddy. Together, they will oversee global client relations, project execution and studio operations. The company said it remains committed to expanding its global footprint.