Goldcrest is gearing up for a major push into the world of high-end picture post.

The facility, which is best known for its audio post work across feature films and broadcast, is believed to have poached senior members of staff from DI facility Company 3 to support the move.

Company 3 UK boss Patrick Malone, who resigned from the Deluxe Entertainment Services firm towards the end of last year, will head Goldcrest’s theatrical post department. He has taken on the role of managing director.

Malone, who held the role of director of digital film services at Company 3, is set to join Goldcrest in the coming weeks, when his period of gardening leave ends.

Goldcrest chief executive Chris Quested said Malone would “play a key role in our aggressive on-going expansion”.

His departure has fuelled speculation that he will be joined at Goldcrest by other Company 3 employees, leading to a major shake-up in the UK’s DI sector.

Company 3 colourists Adam Glasman and Rob Pizzey, together with technical director Laurent Treherne, have also resigned from Company 3.

Despite the departures, Company 3 president Stefan Sonnenfeld said he expected 2014 to be a strong year for Company 3 London.

He said: “Our team of colourists around the globe, which has recently been enhanced by the addition of Greg Fisher, gives us the flexibility to accommodate change within the business and this pool of talent ensures that we will continue to deliver a first class DI service to our clients in London and in the US.”

Goldcrest has 50 dry hire cutting rooms and a handful of online suites, but is expected to make significant investment to support the expansion, with two grading suites to be installed at its Lexington Street base.

The company bolstered its picture post department in 2012 when it formed a year-long alliance with boutique grading facility Narduzzo Too, and recruited Moira Brophy as head of post production and Sinéad Cronin as senior online editor.