In addition to all the recent buzz surrounding EON Reality’s recent arrival to the UK, we’re also happy to announce that Ken Swain has been appointed Managing Director for our new European headquarters!
Ken has 30+ years of global experience in interactive 3D technologies, visual communications and creative services, and will strengthen EON Reality’s position in the European market as well as provide a strategic role in development of future technologies.
Born and educated in the UK, Ken has worked on nuclear defense, medical and marine projects before moving to Australia where he worked with prominent mining and engineering companies, developing his skills in manufacturing, industrial design, research and development. He was an early adopter of 3D CAD-CAM in the 1980’s and achieved an Australian Design award and Japanese G-Mark award for his design work.
In the early 1990’s Ken set up his own design and visualization practice. During this time he became a member of the Design Institute of Australia, a certified instructor for Alias|Wavefront, a Visiting Lecturer at Curtin University of Technology and an advisor to the Australian Government for Design and Technology curriculum.
Ken returned to the UK in 1995 and was recruited by Alias|Wavefront (now Autodesk) to develop and manage their design and entertainment 3D software training and consulting services across Western Europe. In 2002 he left Alias to start Design Academy Ltd and developed a successful business offering innovative 3D solutions to industry, government and education built around Autodesk’s 3D Max, Maya and EON Reality’s interactive 3D software. Ken re-joined EON Reality Inc. in October 2011 as Business Development Director for UK before this latest appointment.
« Having worked with EON products for many years, I am looking forward to developing the new European Centre and increasing the use of interactive 3D across the region. With the increasing growth of 3D technology the time is right to build on Manchester’s reputation for innovation and creativity, by bringing together creative people, developers, integrators, education and government to change the education and industrial learning space.
In Manchester we have the second largest creative cluster in the whole of Europe and no other European city has invested as much in its digital sector to create a global hub for creative and digital businesses like EON Reality’s Interactive R&D European Centre.
With the new EON Entrepreneur Coding School, we are going to build a talent pool for creating 3D content. New skills will be learnt, many new jobs will be created, young students will understand difficult concept easier and adults will absorb information faster. With our investment in people and a committed team behind the project, EON Reality will help Manchester to become Europe’s top digital city by 2020, » said Ken Swain.
« We are very pleased to establish our European base in Manchester. We view this as a key step for our growth strategy for Europe and beyond. Having the right person on the job to manage growth and implement our strategy is vital and having Ken Swain on the ground fulfils that need. His extensive 3D market experience from technology as well as the business side is exactly what we need, » said Mats Johansson, CEO and Co-founder EON Reality.
