SMPTE upgrades UK offshoot, names governor

Bruce Devlin

The board of US-based Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) has approved the creation of a UK offshoot and named Bruce Devlin, chief media scientist at Dalet, as its first governor. 

The SMPTE UK Section has grown from 83 members in 2012 to more than 500 members in 2015, making it eligible to petition the SMPTE board to establish itself as a Region, which will provide it with formal representation on the board.

Devlin had previously been elected by the membership to serve as 2016-2017 governor for the Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Central, and South America Region. The SMPTE board of governors has now appointed Siegfried Foessel, head of the department of Moving Picture Technologies at Fraunhofer IIS, to assume that role while Devlin will represent the SMPTE UK Region on the board.

“The widespread support for the SMPTE U.K. Section and its work, evident in rapidly increasing attendance at meetings across the UK, reflects the growth occurring across the Society as a whole,” said William C. Miller, SMPTE membership vice president.

“SMPTE now has more than 6,400 members worldwide, and students represent the fastest-growing group of members. As we move into the Society’s centennial year, it is exciting to see that our work is relevant and important to the newest members of our industry.”