Los Angeles and London—Jun 20, 2006
Kodak taps Kercher to manage Digital Cinema in Europe, Middle East and Africa
Executive Will Lead Kodak’s Digital Cinema Expansion In Key Growth Markets
Underscoring Kodak’s global commitment to digital cinema, the company named Brian Kercher to be general manager for Kodak Digital Cinema covering Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Kercher joins the Kodak team now offering digital cinema solutions in all key regions of the world.
Kercher has been with Kodak in Europe for the past 11 years, most recently managing the entertainment imaging business in the United Kingdom, Ireland and the Republic of South Africa. Now, as digital cinema gains interest and wider deployment throughout Europe, Kodak has moved Kercher into this position on a full time basis. He replaces Denis Kelly, who retired.
“Brian is an outstanding businessman who understands our company, our technology, and our industry,” says Bob Mayson, general manager and vice president of Kodak Digital Motion Imaging, the senior manager to whom Kercher reports. “He knows how to cause change, how to develop different approaches, to build effective relationships, to ‘open doors’, and to expand opportunities for Kodak and our customers.”
According to Kercher, his role is to help customers understand a new path to the future. “Kodak’s offering is unique in that we are providing a complete solution, one that handles pre-show as well as features, JPEG as well as MPEG,” he says. “Exhibitors are recognizing they are making long-term decisions; they need solutions that will comply with DCI ‘standards’ as those evolve – and Kodak offers that assurance.”
The European market is beginning to gain momentum. Expectations are becoming reality.
“The ‘door’ is more than ajar,” says Kercher, “but exhibitors are asking about the business and operational implications of this technology. They want to know how their investment will help them grow their business. We’re eager to help them understand that.”
Exhibitors want to be sure that the system they are investing in today will provide all the capability they need for tomorrow.
“Customers are looking to companies that have kept their promises,” Kercher says. “That’s why they’re talking to Kodak; they know we’ve built our brand on a solid foundation of long-term relationships and continued innovation. They recognize that we have the capability to and commitment to meet industry standards and requirements, even as those are re-defined.”
When Kercher started with Kodak 11 years ago, he worked on early digital products and systems because he had a background and education in that technology. During his career, the company also gave him extensive experience in film; now he has come full circle.
“Digital cinema will evolve over the long-term,” he says, “and evolutions are not only about what changes, but also about what stays the same. Technology changes. Products change. But the values of the Kodak brand remain the same. When customers ask: Who can I depend on when everything’s changing? – it’s my job and it’s my responsibility to make sure they know they can depend on Kodak.”