Erika Burton

Co-president, Rhythm & Hues film division

A veteran of the visual effects and animation arena with a career spanning more than 20 years, Erika Burton has held leadership positions at top-tier entertainment companies, including Disney, Industrial Light & Magic, and Rhythm & Hues Studios.

As co-president of Rhythm & Hues' film division, Burton shares leadership duties with the divisionʼs president Lee Berger. Together - and in tandem with the division's senior management team - they are responsible for the extensive client relations and production management associated with the studio's core animation and visual effects production service work. In addition, Burton uses her vast experience and network of relationships within the entertainment industry to facilitate the studio's emphasis on the development of new original content. Prior to her current position, Burton served as vice president of production for Disney Animation. She was the executive producer for Rhythm & Hues Films from 2006 to early 2011, overseeing teams whose work included the Academy Award-winning "The Golden Compass," the highly successful "Alvin and the Chipmunks" and "Night at the Museum" franchises. Burton was the visual effects producer for Rhythm & Hues on the Oscar-nominated "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" and visual effects produced "Evan Almighty" and "Dr. Seuss' 'The Cat in the Hat" for the studio.

Before joining Rhythm & Hues in 2002, Burton produced effects at The Secret Lab/Dream Quest Images on such films as "Reign of Fire," "The Kid," "Bicentennial Man," "Instinct" and "Deep Rising." At Industrial Light & Magic she moved up through the ranks working on "Mission: Impossible," "Men in Black" and other projects. Burtonʼs early career featured stints at Jim Henson Productions, Showtime Networks and Triad Artists.

Burton is a graduate of UCLA, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history.