Tokyo - AOI Pro., Inc. (Head Office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Hajime Ushioda; hereinafter "AOI Pro.") and Nomad Editing Company, Inc. (Head Office: California, USA; CEO: Glenn Martin; hereinafter "Nomad"), a long-established North American post-production company, co-founded Ampersand Inc., a production company in Santa Monica, California. The company began full-scale operations in May 2022.

Ampersand Inc. is a joint venture between AOI Pro., one of Asia's top production companies with international bases in China, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia, and Nomad, an established North American post-production company with offices in Los Angeles, New York, Austin, London, and Tokyo. Glenn Martin, the current President of Nomad, has been appointed Chief Executive Officer. Phillip Detchmendy, who previously worked at Tool of North America and RSA led by North American master filmmaker Ridley Scott, has been appointed Managing Director (MD). Jennifer Gee, who served as Executive Producer (EP) at Partizan, Serial Pictures, will assume the role of Executive Producer.

Background and Objectives for Establishing a North American Office

1. AOI Pro., an industry leader in global production, founded Ampersand with a strong desire to provide optimal production solutions in North America, the world's largest film market. By combining AOI Pro.'s expansive Asian network with Nomad's North American and European networks, both companies can expect to benefit from this partnership.

2. Ampersand will support creators and artists who seek to work in the global market by offering opportunities and providing new value to films in the North American market.

3. To respond to the media mix in the global market, Ampersand will provide optimal solutions not only for rich content but also for digital and Social Media content. In this day and age, it is necessary to respond to multiple channels, which makes it imperative to appoint creators who meet the latest trends. A partner in the United States will be of great value in meeting these demands.

4. AOI Pro.'s slogan, "AOI MAGIC!" expresses the company's desire to "create as many moments as possible where films bring magic into the world."
To deliver excitement and new experiences to places outside Japan, AOI Pro. will actively develop personnel with international communication and technical skills on the global stage.

(From the left) CEO of AOI Pro.: Hajime Ushioda, Nomad President: Glenn Martin, Managing Director of Ampersand : Phillip Detchmendy

Comments From the Representatives of Each Company

＜AOI Pro. Representative Director & President Hajime Ushioda＞
We will venture outside Japan and take on this challenge in the U.S. to encounter brilliant collaborators, learn, expose ourselves to new cultures, and get to know people we have not yet had the chance to meet.
At the exciting and stimulating home ground of film, LA and New York, we will seize opportunities not only in commercials but with the production of various other content such as TV shows and films, and share these experiences among members of the company.

＜Nomad President Glenn Martin＞
AOI has been a great supporter and partner with Nomad Tokyo, and we are thrilled and honored to assist with this new venture in the States.

＜Ampersand Managing Director Phillip Detchmendy＞
It’s a great honor to be Managing Director of Ampersand and be part of its launch.  The name Ampersand represents the additive power that comes from bringing together different components to make brand stories come to life for our agency and client partners. As a U.S. company, we are both embedded in the U.S. market locally while being part of the global AOI network.

Executive Producer

Jennifer Gee

Overview of the Companies

About AOI Pro.
Since its founding in 1963, AOI Pro. has established itself as Japan’s leading production company. AOI Pro. boasts a prolific output of commercial work - producing over 1000 spots per year and expanding its creativity to TV series and film. The group is fully equipped with resources related to production, including planning, directing, producing, 3D CGI production, studios with the latest equipment, and post-production. AOI Pro. also has a global division consisting of in-house bilingual producers, as well as production bases in China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and other international locations, which enables the company to take on global projects.

Representative	Representative Director & President Hajime Ushioda
Business Description	Full-service production of commercials, digital content, and entertainment content
Head Office	Ginza COM Bldg. 8-10F, 8-15-2, Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0061, Japan
URL	www.aoi-pro.com

About Nomad Editing Company
Since its founding in 1963, AOI Pro. has established itself as Japan’s leading production company. AOI Nomad is an editing company established in 1996 in Los Angeles, California, USA, with offices in Santa Monica, New York, Austin, London, and Tokyo. The company has a team of experienced editors and VFX artists and has created many TV commercials and web videos for global brands.

Representative	President Glenn Martin
Business Description	Offline editing, visual effects, sound design, sound mixing, color correction
Head Office	1661 19th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90404, UNITED STATES
Locations	New York, Austin, London, Tokyo
URL	https://nomadedit.com/us/

About Ampersand

Representative	Managing Director Phillip Detchmendy
Business Description	Production with a focus on TV Commercials
Location	1903 Olympic Blvd. Santa Monica, CA 90404, UNITED STATES
URL	http://www.ampersandinc.com

Ampersand’s Directors

(Expecting to represent approximately 10 directors in total.)

Thibault Debaveye　
https://ampersandinc.com/directors/thibault-debaveye/

Kathi Prosser　
https://ampersandinc.com/directors/kathi-prosser

Hisashi Eto
https://ampersandinc.com/directors/hisashi-eto/

---

Contact for Inquiries