)
Coffee & TV expands to New York
)
The new studio will be led by Jaz Rongokea [middle] as managing director and Robert Bruce [left] as VFX supervisor [pictured with CEO Derek Moore].
London-based global creative studio Coffee & TV has announced the opening of its new studio in New York, led by the award-winning duo of Jaz Rongokea as Managing Director and Robert Bruce as VFX Supervisor.
Rongokea joins Coffee & TV from The Mill New York, where she served as Head of Production. During her time there, she spearheaded high-profile campaigns for global brands such as Burberry, Balenciaga, and PlayStation. Rongokea is widely recognised for her vision and leadership, having transformed internal teams and processes to deliver world-class results.
Rongokea’s career began at Wētā FX in New Zealand, where she worked on James Cameron’s groundbreaking film Avatar. Her impressive career spans the film, television, software, and advertising industries. Notable projects include His Dark Materials, which earned a BAFTA for visual effects, and Burberry’s ‘Open Spaces’ campaign, which received a Gold award at Cannes Lions 2022.
Sharing her enthusiasm for her new role, Rongokea said, “One of the things Coffee & TV are so famous for is their culture. They are proof that you can deliver creatively excellent work without compromising the people making it. I can't wait to bring that attitude to New York and help confirm the narrative that there is another, better way.”
Joining Rongokea is award-winning VFX Supervisor Robert Bruce, who will be leading on-set operations. Bruce, previously with Blacksmith in New York, has earned global recognition for his work, including a Super Clio win and an Emmy nomination for the ‘Michael CeraVe’ campaign. Before his time at Blacksmith, Bruce was a compositing supervisor at Mr X., where he collaborated with acclaimed directors such as Ang Lee, Guillermo del Toro, Ben Stiller, and Adam McKay.
“I’m looking forward to bringing Coffee & TV’s world-class, creative magic to New York. We have an amazing opportunity to build an environment and team that encourages mentorship, development, good chat, and stellar work,” Bruce said, reflecting on the company’s unique culture.
Chris Chard, Executive Producer and Co-Founder of Coffee & TV, expressed his excitement about the expansion: “To attract talents like Jaz and Robert is a dream come true. The energy, the ambition, the creativity! I can’t wait to see what we accomplish together.” Chard will be heading to New York in early 2025 to support the studio’s growth.
Rongokea will spearhead the growth of the New York studio, working closely with studio leads in Los Angeles and London. The innovative new studio on Varick Street will combine cutting-edge design with the latest technology to offer top-tier VFX services.
CEO and Co-Founder Derek Moore added, “I’m delighted that Coffee & TV attracts such a high calibre of people, even in a new market for us like New York. Coupled with the imminent opening of our gorgeous new facility in Soho, I am incredibly excited—both for our own future and that of the wider VFX industry here.”
+ membership
Access the world's largest advertising database. With an intuitive toolset that helps you explore, present and collaborate more effectively.
Learn More
