In a time when only a teeny-weeny fraction (3%) of UK companies sponsor their workers, Covert, an award-winning VFX and post-production studio, is beyond proud to announce its sponsorship of Iranian national Morteza Parsadan – a self-taught expert in computer graphics. 

Although Morteza graduated from a Tehran university with a degree in Art Direction in Gaming, rather than continue with a Masters he followed his passion for 3D animation and computer graphics, swapping academia for online YouTube tutorials and countless hours (/years!) of self-directed practice. After working tirelessly for Middle-Eastern agencies and despite leading teams of animators, he didn’t feel creatively challenged – three years ago he applied for a job at Covert, worked his way up to Head of CG and hasn’t looked back.

For Morteza, the decision to leave Iran was driven by a deep desire for freedom and a better future. Facing increasing restrictions imposed by the Iranian government paired with an atmosphere that can hinder personal and creative expression, he sought an environment where his professional ambitions could flourish unencumbered, and remote-first Covert was the place: “It was a hard time for us. I couldn’t envision a bright future in Iran under the current government and I knew that if I wanted to grow creatively and live freely, I needed to move – with my cats of course, they are my children!” he shared.

Reflecting the company’s values of openness, creativity, and inclusivity,  Covert went above and beyond to ensure Morteza, his wife Marziyeh, and their two beloved cats could settle in the picturesque coastal town of Broadstairs in Kent. The company facilitated the big move with extensive financial and administrative support, including hiring a private immigration agent, covering all costs, and even paying for premium processing to expedite his family’s relocation. This is pretty rare in the advertising space as traditionally only larger corporations like PwC and Barclays seem to navigate the perceived complexities and soaring costs of these sponsorships. This sets a powerful example in the VFX industry of the possibilities that arise when a company is truly committed to inclusivity, diversity, and empowering talent without borders. 

Covert’s actions continually underscore its dedication to nurturing talent and breaking down barriers in the pursuit of creativity. “Our mission at Covert is not just to deliver incredible visuals, but to foster an environment where our people feel empowered and supported,” said Managing Director Max Murphy. “Morteza’s passion aligns with our values of being Hungry, Humble, and Human. For us, creativity has no bounds, and supporting Morteza was a reflection of that belief. We’re stoked to have him in England and can’t wait to show him around!”.

Unlike many ‘coulda, shoulda, woulda” businesses, it seems Covert are true to their word and focus heavily on employee well-being. Aside from a zero-minute commute and a flexible remote-working culture, the team is also treated to a 2-week Christmas shutdown AND a 38-day holiday allowance on top, as well as team annual wellness retreats.