Global VFX and animation house DNEG has brought in Kara Oropallo as its new VP of training, outreach and artistic development.

Based in LA, Oropallo’s remit is to design, plan and roll out training programs for DNEG’s global workforce. She’s also responsible for creating artistic development programs and leading outreach with universities and artist communities. Oropallo reports directly to Tom Jacomb, who was upped from MD to president of DNEG last month.

Personnel growth seems to be going strong at DNEG, which just opened a new studio in Toronto that will employ around 200 people in feature animation, VFX and tech positions. The company is also in the process of recruiting 100 new team members for animation roles at its Vancouver studio. And job satisfaction seems to be a top priority, evidenced by DNEG’s recent decision to break with industry convention and pay overtime to animators at its UK studio.

Before stepping into her newly created role with DNEG on September 13, Oropallo was building training programs for the likes of Netflix, DreamWorks, Paramount and Skydance as an animation and management consultant. She also taught emerging animation students as an assistant professor of practice at the University of Texas’s School of Arts, Technology and Emerging Communications in Dallas. And prior to that, Oropallo spent two years working as an artistic resources department manager on features such as Trolls and Rise of Guardians at DreamWorks Animation.