press releases
Atomhawk Set to Soar
It’s been a case of one door closing and another opening for Gateshead entrepreneur Cumron Ashtiani.
In July this year, Cumron was one of over 70 employees to be made redundant when Tyneside games developer Midway Games was forced to close its doors after its American owner fell into financial difficulties.
Fast forward a little over three months and Cumron has made the swift transition to entrepreneur and owner manager, running a successful digital artwork and design company – Atomhawk Design – alongside former colleagues at Midway.
The expanding company is part of Gateshead’s burgeoning creative industry and employs the talents of Pete Thompson, Steven Pick and Corlen Kruger. Supplying a range of services including 2D and 3D artwork, video production and web content, Atomhawk is already working with several top tier clients in the games, film and online sectors.
With plenty of creativity ability, the team has over forty years of industry experience between them. Cumron said: “There was some fantastic talent at Midway. We’d worked on games like Wheelman (featuring Vin Diesel) so it was a real shame when it closed. We might have been able to buy the company but the speed at which everything happened prevented that.
“Fortunately, we recognised that there’s a growing demand for outsourced design work. Many firms need design work but don’t have the necessary expertise – particularly in the games sector. I’d been working with some of the best talent in the industry so it seemed a perfect time to start something on our own.”
Cumron turned to Tyne and Wear Development Company and Gateshead Council for business support and advice on funding. One North East supported the project with a Grant for Business Investment (GBI). Cumron added: “We were originally looking for a management buy-out which is how Tyne and Wear Development Company came into the equation. Obviously, we disregarded that idea and focussed instead on starting something new. Paul Buie and his team were absolutely essential in the whole process, acting as a real mentor, putting us in touch with the right people and guiding us in the right direction.
“Gateshead Council has also been hugely supportive, particularly in quickly locating an office for us and funding from One North East very welcome.”
With a growing client base and skill-set that Cumron believes is virtually unmatched anywhere in the world, the former Midway maestro has ambitious plans for growth. Atomhawk hopes to expand its workforce to 15 over the next three years and is already in discussions with Gateshead Council about moving to a new property in Gateshead to match these ambitions.
Paul Buie said: “Atomhawk is a company with exciting prospects in a dynamic and growing sector. The contacts, expertise and unique services Atomhawk offers means the company is in an enviable position to meet this demand. It’s great news for the region and our creative sector which is vitally important to the area.”
Back