The Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE), a worldwide force in motion-imaging standards and education, announced new appointments to its Board of Governors. Dr. Hans Hoffmann becomes the first European in nearly four decades to serve as engineering vice president. Richard Welsh becomes the organization’s new Governor for Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Central & South America Region. Both were appointed at a recent meeting of the SMPTE Board of Governors.
The appointments of Hoffmann and Welsh follow the election late last year of then engineering vice president Wendy Aylsworth to the position of SMPTE executive vice president; she is the first woman to be elected to that post in the history of SMPTE. During her three years as the engineering vice president, Aylsworth worked to streamline and further systematize the organization’s standards-making processes and launched work on 3D to the Home and Broadband standards.
Hoffmann will serve out the one year remaining on Aylsworth’s term as engineering vice president; as a result, he relinquished his position as for Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Central & South America Region. Welsh will serve out the one year remaining on that term.
Dr. Hoffmann is Head of media fundamentals and production technologies in the Technology and Development department of the European Broadcast Union (EBU). He is leading numerous EBU activities in the field of 3D, HDTV, IT-based production, and future media production technologies.
Welsh is director of Digital Cinema Services at Dolby, responsible for running digital cinema mastering and distribution; his team is also involved in the research and development of new products and solutions for Digital Cinema. Richard regularly presents at key industry conferences such as NAB and IBC. Since joining Dolby in 1999, Richard has worked as an applications engineer, sound consultant, and digital cinema mastering manager for the company.
In addition to the appointments of Hoffmann and Welsh, seven directors and a governor at large were also added the SMPTE Board of Governors. A complete list of Board members is available at http://www.smpte.org/about/board/.