Rodeo FX Appoints Paul Salvini as Chief Technology Officer

​Rodeo FX has welcomed Paul Salvini as its new chief technology officer. A respected innovator in computer graphics and a key figure behind the creation and evolution of Houdini, Paul brings a rare combination of deep technical expertise, entrepreneurial vision, and industry insight. His arrival marks a significant step forward as Rodeo FX continues to invest in next-generation tools, scalable pipelines, and forward-thinking R&D.

Paul's career began at the forefront of computer graphics innovation. As CTO at SideFX, he helped shape one of the most powerful and widely adopted tools in the visual effects industry and helped shape the future of visual effects production.

“Technology should always serve the artist,” said Paul. “That philosophy guided our work on Houdini, and it’s a vision that resonates strongly with the culture at Rodeo FX. The studio’s dedication to empowering artists while embracing cutting-edge technology makes this an incredibly exciting moment to join the team.”

While at SideFX, Paul began teaching engineering and computer science in the evenings at the University of Toronto. It was there that he started working with local technology entrepreneurs to help transform technology ideas into great Canadian companies. 

When he left SideFX after more than 15 years, he served as CTO at Christie Digital before turning his attention full-time to helping startups in the dual role: CEO of the Accelerator Centre and AVP Research at the University of Waterloo. He worked closely with researchers and technology entrepreneurs and grew the Accelerator Centre into one of the world’s top business incubators.  

Paul later returned to the visual effects industry as CTO at DNEG, where he helped define the company’s technology agenda, including early investments in artificial intelligence and real-time technologies, and led major pipeline innovation initiatives designed to future-proof production workflows.

“Paul is a rare leader who understands the deep connection between technology, business, and creativity,” said Sébastien Moreau, president and founder of Rodeo FX. “His philosophy—placing technology in service of artists—aligns closely with Rodeo FX’s DNA, making this a natural and strategic addition to the leadership team.”

Paul holds a BMath degree from the University of Waterloo, MASc and PhD degrees from the University of Toronto (specialising in computer simulation), and an MBA from the University of Toronto. 

As the industry undergoes rapid transformation driven by AI, real-time workflows, and evolving production models, this appointment positions Rodeo FX to accelerate innovation while continuing to deliver world-class creative work. The studio recently took home a Visual Effects Society Award for its work on HBO’s 'IT: Welcome to Derry' and is currently wrapping work on Amazon’s 'The Rings of Power' and MGM’s 'Masters of the Universe'.

Paul will take over from Martin Walker, who is set to retire from Rodeo FX in May. Paul joined the creative company in 2024 and has been instrumental in guiding Rodeo FX through recent technological upgrades, including the full integration of the Mikros Animation pipeline following Rodeo FX’s acquisition of the studio in 2025. The entire company thanks Martin for his outstanding contributions and wishes him a pleasant and well-earned retirement.