Runway has appointed Jeff Buchignani as president. An 18-year veteran of the post-production industry, Buchignani arrives from a similar position with Pivotal Post, and brings strong credentials as a manager, business strategist and industry leader. In his new role, he will oversee operations, direct strategy, and orchestrate an ambitious expansion effort. The latter will include extending the company’s footprint in Southern California, as well as to other parts of the U.S. and markets abroad.
“Jeff is an icon in the post industry, and an outstanding talent who brings tremendous energy and insight to our team,” said Runway CEO Matt Cooper. “We have admired Jeff for a long time and feel he is the perfect person to lead us into the future.”
“Jeff shares our customer-centric approach to the business,” added COO/CFO Allan Chalfin. “He will help us continue to find new ways to improve service and make life easier for our clients.”
For his part, Buchignani said that he is impressed with Runway’s status as one of the largest editorial rental operations in the Los Angeles area, and by its potential for further growth globally. He notes that the company is in a unique position to provide producers with turnkey post-production solutions including editorial finishing, color correction, and deliverables.
“My immediate goal is to build on the strengths of this organization and bring leadership to our growth plans,” Buchignani said. “We currently have more than 200 editorial rooms in the Los Angeles area, which is a fantastic resource for film and television producers. I see a tremendous opportunity to bring the same level of technology and service to other markets in the United States, Canada and Europe where production activity is growing. We are going to engage in those areas and provide an infrastructure that is second to none.”
Buchignani’s tenure at Pivotal Post spanned 13 years, including five years with DES (Digital Editing Solutions) as vice president of sales. Under his leadership, the company experienced consistent growth and expanded both its range of services and geographic reach in major production zones, including Los Angeles, New York, Toronto and Europe.
“I am extremely passionate about this business,” Buchignani said. “I can’t wait to add my energies, vibe and vigor to the group of talented and service oriented pros at Runway, who are already doing so well.”
In a related move, Runway has hired Jeff Klitzner as director of operations. Klitzner, who also arrives from Pivotal Post, brings broad experience in operations and sales, and a track record for helping companies grow. His background includes senior managerial positions with PlasterCity Digital Post, Panasonic Broadcast & Television Systems and ASC Audio Video Corporations. His focus will be to improve operational efficiencies throughout the Runway organization. Klitzner joins industry veterans Lloyd Guillen and Chris Seagren, formerly of Atlas Digital, who were recently tapped by Runway.
Runway expects to announce additional staff appointments over the coming weeks, including senior-level additions to its engineering team. “We are bolstering our existing operational and engineering staff with some exceptionally skilled and experienced people,” Cooper said. “Hands down, we now have the best technical staff in the industry.”
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