President and CEO, Foundry
EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2012
Recipient of a ‘Technical Oscar’ in 2007 for technology contributions to film
Foundry’s software has powered all the VFX Oscar nominees and winners since 2008
Combining creativity and technology
Surviving 4 different Private Equity backers
IP Licensing
Spelling
Perfect stripes on a lawn
Bill began his Foundry career as an algorithms engineer and became CEO in 2007, taking it from a niche, London-based visual effects software company to a high growth global force. He built a nimble and entrepreneurial leadership team to keep pace with the challenges of an 8 year, 45% top line CAGR and multiple Private Equity transactions and acquisitions. His leadership skills earned him an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year award in 2012.
In 2009, with the business achieving revenues of c.£4m, he undertook a management buyout backed by Advent Venture Partners. By 2011, with revenues at £15m, Bill led a secondary buyout in partnership with Carlyle, allowing the business to expand into other geographies and sectors including games, marketing and industrial design. Four years later revenues had increased by over 160% and Bill led his third buyout to HgCapital for £200m whilst concurrently starting his transition away from day-to-day leadership of the company.
Today, Bill spends his time helping other fast-growing companies in the software and digital media space. He is Chairman of four private equity backed companies; Disguise, Mediatonic, Random42 and Cubic Motion, as well as sitting on the board of Exocad GmbH.
“Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now.” Goethe
Choose your customers well and listen to them carefully.
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