Splice has recruited former Prime Focus head of audio Phitz Hearne to head up its sound department.

Hearne replaces Nag Kirinde who left Splice in November to become a freelance dubbing mixer.

Hearne won an Emmy Award for his work on America The Story of Us. His credits also include WWII from Space and Gypsy Blood.

Splice managing director Duncan Western said: “We’re thrilled to have Phitz on board; there aren’t many sound engineers of his calibre.

“We wanted to take the department forward and Phitz’s flair and experience in both scripted and documentary films made him the natural choice of talent to make that happen.”

In April last year, Splice acquired fellow east London facility Air Post, which took the firm’s editing, grading and audio facilities to over 55 suites.

It plans to build two more 5.1 dubbing theatres - one of which will be certified for Dolby theatrical mixes - later this year.