Press Release: Prominent Experiential Design And Production Firm, Thinkwell, Appoints Co-Founder François Bergeron As Chief Operating Officer

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BURBANK, CALIF. (February 11, 2013) — Thinkwell, a full-service experiential design and production firm specializing in theme parks, major attractions, events, exhibits and live shows around the world, today announced the promotion of Thinkwell co-founder François Bergeron from Chief Strategy Officer to the role of Chief Operating Officer, effective immediately. In this role, Bergeron, who also serves as Thinkwell’s Chief Financial Officer, will continue to manage the finance and legal departments, as well as begin working directly with the company’s resource and operations departments and production teams to formalize corporate-wide systems and processes.
As Thinkwell continues to enjoy steady growth with multiple projects around the world, Bergeron will support the company’s efforts by providing a dedicated inward focus, guiding the company’s ways and methods for delivery, while Thinkwell CEO Joe Zenas continues to oversee the external initiatives of client cultivation, corporate messaging and business growth. Thinkwell co-founder Craig Hanna will continue his role as Chief Creative Officer, serving as the creative conscience on every Thinkwell project worldwide.
“Thinkwell was very fortunate to enjoy an incredibly successful 2012, and with Francois in this new role, we will be in a more balanced position to capitalize on the corporate knowledge we’ve gathered over the last 12 years,” said Zenas. “He will play a vital role in Thinkwell’s future as we continue to expand and explore new business models and relationships globally.”
Bergeron has more than 30 years of experience in the Entertainment Industry. In addition to serving as a founding partner in an executive role at Thinkwell, he spent more than 20 years as an award-winning sound designer for Cirque du Soleil. He also worked as a consultant for the Walt Disney Company, Universal Studios and other Producers & Developers around the globe. He has been instrumental in the development of audio for projects including the Hayden Planetarium in New York City; the Niketown flagship stores in London, Berlin and New York; EFX in Las Vegas; Science City in Kansas City; Templo del Fuego for Universal Studios Port Aventura; and live shows and nighttime spectaculars for Tokyo Disney Sea.
Some of Thinkwell’s most recent projects include the highly acclaimed Thea Award-winning Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter; Jurassic Dream, an indoor theme park in Daqing, China; Monkey Kingdom, a theme park underway in Beijing; and Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, among others. Since its founding in 2001, Thinkwell has represented a diverse roster of clients, including Harrah’s Entertainment, Dubai Properties, Nike, House of Blues, Thor Equities, Paramount Parks, Universal Studios, Warner Bros. and many others. Other noteworthy projects include Universal 360 – A Cinesphere Spectacular; the Show at the Pier Shops at Caesar’s Atlantic City; the Snow Play Zone at Ski Dubai; Sesame Street Presents: The Body and Fernbank Museum of Natural History’s NatureQuest children’s exhibit, to name a few.
About Thinkwell Group
Founded in 2001, Thinkwell is a full-service experiential design and development firm that collaborates with its clients to envision, strategize and create immersive, one-of-a-kind guest experiences. Thinkwell develops and produces attractions, master plans, brand experiences, exhibits, live shows, environments, multimedia and digital integration for clients around the world. The company has become a leader in experiential design by bringing a unique holistic approach to every creative engagement, delivering extraordinary results to notable clients over the years, including Fortune 500 companies, studios, museums, theme parks and destination resorts. Recognized globally for its expertise in creating unique and memorable guest experiences, Thinkwell was hired in 2011 by the London Organizing Committee to serve as consultants for the 2012 Olympics’ Spectator Experience at Olympic Park, consulting on all touch-points of the property. For more information visit: www.thinkwell.staging.work
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