NEC Solutions (America), Inc. today announced the formation of its Media Solutions
Division, and the appointment of Kurt Schwenk as director of media solutions. The
newly-formed division is dedicated to the creation and delivery of digital media
solutions for advertising, alternative content and feature films in theaters and
public spaces. To underscore NEC's commitment to this market, industry veteran Harry
Mathias has also joined the Media Solutions Division as director of technology.
Utilizing enterprise computing innovations, the NEC Solutions America/Media Solutions
Division leverages the world-class expertise of NEC visual display products, infrastructure,
and integration services to develop specialized, turnkey solutions for the delivery
and management of digital content.
"We are pleased to have the leadership of two such highly-regarded industry visionaries
to the NEC Solutions America team, and we are excited about delivering our digital
and electronic media competencies to the market," said Toshimitsu Iwanami, president
and chief executive officer of NEC Solutions America. "Kurt and Harry bring to NEC
an impressive background in entertainment business, technology and expertise. They
represent a major enhancement to NEC and its vision for the future of digital presentations."
By leading the development of NEC Solutions America's integration services for
digital cinema, Schwenk will focus on using digital media technology for the advertising
and alternative programming displayed prior to feature presentations. He brings
over 21 years in the entertainment industry to NEC, having worked for Warner Brothers,
The Walt Disney Company, Lucasfilm Ltd., and Dolby Laboratories. His connection
to digital cinema extends as far back as the first digital cinema feature film presentation,
Star Wars, Episode I, where his division oversaw the digital cinema transfer and
playback for Lucasfilm.
"NEC's extensive line of digital media hardware, software and networking initiatives
within entertainment media, along with its history as a global technology innovator,
represents an attractive opportunity," said Kurt Schwenk, director of Media Solutions
Division, NEC Solutions America. "We're already on our way to creating new partnerships
and forming strategic alliances that leverage NEC's existing expertise and offer
new services and technology support to customers."
Mathias has over 22 years of experience in the television and motion picture industry.
He was most recently director of digital cinema, America for BARCO, where he was
responsible for guiding the strategic planning, marketing, and technical coordination
of the BARCO Digital Cinema projector rollout in the USA. Mathias has held a number
of high-profile positions during his career including director of motion picture
technology for Schneider Optics, Inc.; senior consultant to the CEO of Panavision;
consultant to DreamWorks Animation SKG; president and CEO of Data Engineering; as
well as the only American consultant to the European Common Market on the subject
of High Definition and Video Production Technology.
The Media Solutions Division will be hosting a launch event in its new Burbank facilities
featuring state-of-the-art screening room on February 26, 2004.