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Standard Chartered names Peter Burrill interim group CFO
Diego De Giorgi exits to pursue external role; London-based Burrill takes charge
Standard Chartered has appointed Peter Burrill as interim group chief financial officer, replacing Diego De Giorgi with immediate effect, according to an exchange filing on Tuesday.
De Giorgi will step down as executive director and group CFO to pursue an external opportunity. Burrill, who will be based in London, will report to group chief executive Bill Winters. The bank said an announcement on the permanent appointment will be made in due course.
Burrill is currently group head, central finance and deputy chief financial officer at Standard Chartered, roles he has held since joining the bank in 2017. He has served in several senior finance leadership positions across the group.
Before joining Standard Chartered, Burrill was group controller and co-head of group finance at Deutsche Bank. He began his career at KPMG, spending nearly two decades with the professional services firm, including ten years in the United States and a further decade in Germany.
Burrill also chairs the supervisory board of SCB AG, a role he has held since March 2025, having joined the board in 2019.
Commenting on the interim appointment, Winters said Burrill brings deep experience and ensures continuity in the leadership of the group’s finance function. As a respected member of the global leadership team, he is well placed to maintain strategic focus and momentum during the transition.
Winters also thanked De Giorgi for his contribution as group CFO, including his role in executing the bank’s strategy, and wished him well for the future.
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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.
