The Mega Agency owner Kevin Smith has appointed three former Splash colleagues to executive roles within his new media firm.
Smith, who sold Splash in 2011, has recruited Paul Tetley, David Leigh and Karlo Pastrovic to Mega, expected to launch this year.
Tetley (pictured top left), previously vice president of global news and entertainment at Corbis, will be Mega’s chief operations officer. Tetley worked for Splash for 14 years before joining Corbis.
He said: “While the media environment has continued to change and evolve over the years, one thing we have never lost sight of is that content creators will always be at the heart of our business.
“Teaming up with Kevin again is guaranteed to be a fun ride and we intend to make sure Mega lives up to its name.”
Leigh (pictured top right), a former news and foreign editor at the Daily Mirror and assistant editor at the Daily Express, will be Chief Content Officer.
He first met Smith as a reporter on the Evening Argus, Brighton, and later served as senior news director at Splash for 11 years.
Leigh said: “Mega will be like a breath of fresh air: new and exciting ideas, a friend to photographers, and a different option for clients. I can’t wait to get going.”
Pastrovic joins Mega as photo editor, having most recently served on the photo desk at the New York Daily News.
He also spent seven years at the New York bureau of Australian Consolidated Press and a stint as Splash’s east coast photo editor before joining News Corp’s digital newspaper venture, The Daily.
Said Pastrovic: “It’s exciting to be working with people who have always been super responsive to finding the latest technology in getting pictures and videos to our clients quickly.
“This passion to be first is electrifying and it makes my job as a photo editor all the more gratifying. I’m so excited to be starting something great again from the ground up.”
Tom Tramborg, Mega’s CEO, formerly a senior director at Getty Images, worked with all three men when he ran All Over Press International in Scandinavia.
“I am really excited at the team we’re assembling,” said Tramborg.
“Having Paul, Dave and Karlo’s knowledge and expertise available to us as we prepare for launch will help boost both innovation and content, which is what Mega is all about.”
He said Mega was still assembling its global team and further announcements were imminent. Offices are planned across the US, Europe and Australasia.
The Mega Agency isn’t the only picture wire to launch this year. Last week Christopher and Peter Whittle, sons of Cavendish Press picture agency founder Brian, set up Atlantic Images.
Showbiz wire WENN announced it was to launch Cover Images to provide pictures across news, sport and other areas complementing WENN’s expertise in entertainment.
In April, Silverhub picture agency was launched by former Getty Images’chief operating officer Nick Evans-Lombe and editorial division head Adrian Murell. It is run by former Daily Mirror picture editor Ian Down.
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