The Thinkwell Group has announced the acquisition of Montréal-based creative studio Réalisations-Montréal. The company has also hired ex-Delaware North executive Louise Murray as president of its Los Angeles studio.
These are in response to the growth of the organisation and continued global expansion of Thinkwell over the past year.
Réalisations-Montréal was founded in 2000 by Roger Parent, former executive producer and vice-president of production at Cirque du Soleil. The company develops, invents and perfects new technologies; big data, artificial intelligence, real-time generative projection technologies, recognition systems and more. Its clients include, amongst others, museums, attractions, corporate brand experiences and hospitality providers.
Thinkwell and Réalisations collaborated previously on a number of projects before forming a strategic alliance in 2018. This led to Thinkwell Group’s purchase of the creative studio.
“Our projects continuously demand the best in state-of-the-art interactive technologies and design, which we will meet with expanded creative capabilities and technical agility in Montréal,” says Thinkwell’s chief operating and financial officer, François Bergeron.
“This is a major step for Réalisations,” says Parent. “We have always been a boutique creative technology firm developing high quality, unique interactives and media. I have known François for more than 25 years, and now that we are a part of Thinkwell, we can continue to refine our innovations and develop new ones while closely collaborating on projects in Thinkwell’s pipeline.”
In her new role at Thinkwell’s design and production headquarters in LA, Louise Murray will be overseeing the studios’ strategic growth and operation. With an MBA from HEC Montreal, she most recently served as senior vice-president of operations for Delaware North’s TD Garden group. Prior to that, she was VP of Creative Entertainment for Parks & Resorts at The Walt Disney Company and also VP of Tour Planning & Partnerships at Cirque du Soleil.
“Working in a creative studio like Thinkwell is something I’m very passionate about,” says Murray. “It’s exciting to be able to facilitate strategic growth and change at such an innovative company.”
“These initiatives are significant for us,” says Thinkwell CEO Joe Zenas. “Louise comes at an important time in our expansion to strategically manage and operate our largest studio. With more than 230 people in the organisation worldwide, we need the rigour and focus she will bring to our employees and clients.”
