MAM
GroupM appoints Rohit Suri as Chief Talent Officer
MUMBAI: GroupM has appointed Rohit Suri as the chief talent officer for their South Asia operations effective from 1 February. He will be based in Mumbai and report to Group M South Asia CEO CVL Srinivas and GroupM APAC chief talent officer Angela Ryan. Suri takes over from Gaurav Hirey, who is now based in Singapore with Millward Brown, another WPP company.
Speaking on Suri’s appointment Srinivas said “We are at an exciting stage in our journey to build a data centric digitally charged Agency network of the Future. We are delighted to welcome Rohit to our team. Given his vast experience across different markets and the several interesting initiatives he has championed in his career we are sure he will add a lot of value to our business and take our strong talent management practice to the next level”
“I am very excited to take this step in my career and join the world’s largest media investment group,” Suri says. “GroupM has embarked on an exciting journey which places talent management at the core. I look forward to leveraging my experiences in total rewards and innovative talent management practices in India, APAC and Europe for the growth of GroupM’s business.”
Partnering with the leadership teams, he will be responsible for building out talent initiatives regionally, to ensure all GroupM talent have exceptional career experiences and development, while maximizing their full potential. He will also be a part of the GroupM South Asia, and the GroupM APAC Talent Executive Committees.
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Netflix acquires Ben Affleck’s AI film-tech firm InterPositive
Streaming giant picks up production startup to streamline digital filmmaking
LOS ANGELES: Netflix has officially acquired InterPositive, an AI film-technology startup founded by actor and director Ben Affleck. The move marks a significant investment by the streaming service into assistive AI tools designed to support the technical side of movie production. While many AI companies focus on generating new images or scripts, InterPositive focuses on the logistical challenges of filmmaking. The firm’s technology is designed to handle technical tasks that often delay post-production, such as correcting lighting inconsistencies and ensuring visual continuity across different takes.
The acquisition is not about replacing human actors or writers. Instead, Netflix intends to use the technology as a digital assistant for directors. The software understands cinematic logic, meaning it can automatically adjust background elements or environmental effects to ensure a film looks polished and consistent without months of manual editing.
In a Netflix post on Thursday, Affleck emphasised that the project was born out of a desire to support the craft rather than automate it. “I knew I had a responsibility to my peers and our industry, to protect the power of human creativity and the people behind it. In creating InterPositive, I sought to do just that,” Affleck wrote. “From the invention of the moving image to the transition to digital, from motion capture to virtual production, technology has evolved alongside the artists who use it. Our shared commitment to continuing this legacy makes joining together a natural next step.”
Netflix chief product and technology officer Elizabeth Stone said, “Our approach to AI has always been focused on meaningfully serving the needs of the creative community. InterPositive’s technology is purpose-built for filmmakers and showrunners to naturally support their visions. We’re excited to welcome the team to Netflix and continue building a future where technology enhances storytelling, while people remain at the core.”
Netflix chief content officer Bela Bajaria added, “New tools should expand creative freedom, not constrain it. Ben and his team are part of a long tradition of artists leading innovation in storytelling. Their work gives filmmakers more choices, control, and protection for their vision.”
The deal coincides with a broader partnership between Netflix and Artists Equity, the production company led by Affleck and Matt Damon. Following the success of their recent projects on the platform, this acquisition cements Affleck’s role as both a creative and technical advisor to the streamer. Affleck noted that the partnership was a logical fit due to “Netflix’s decades of experience applying and scaling technology responsibly.” He will serve as a senioradvisor for the integration of the technology, ensuring the tools remain focused on helping filmmakers.
For the film industry, this acquisition signals a shift in strategy. Rather than just buying finished movies, Netflix is now owning the specialized technology used to build them. By bringing these tools in-house, the company aims to reduce the rising costs and lengthy timelines associated with high-budget original films while giving their productions a technical edge in speed and visual quality.
