Markus Manninen is an experienced leader with a proven track record in building teams and companies specializing in computer graphics and animation for feature animation film and visual effects. He has worked for companies in both Europe and USA making high profile projects and has experience in building studios from the ground up.
“We are very happy to welcome Markus to Goodbye Kansas Studios. His unique hands-on experience in building companies and large teams internationally, production-oriented technology development and the creative production process from inception to completion, will be a valuable contribution in making Goodbye Kansas Studios a profitable studio with a broadened international focus,” says Peter Levin, CEO at Goodbye Kansas Group.
Among Markus Manninen’s former positions are DreamWorks in Los Angeles, where he built a successful production process. He was instrumental in growing Oriental Dreamworks with offices in Shanghai and Los Angeles. In 2016, as Partner and Creative Director, he built the international production company HB Wink Animation for Huayi Brothers with offices in Shanghai and Los Angeles. Prior to that he built a computer graphics team at the former renowned traditional animation studio Filmtecknarna in Sweden and ran the 3D Commercials team at Framestore in London.
Markus Manninen holds a Master of Science from the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, where he also was engaged in building a Media Laboratory. His work includes Academy Award nominated "Kung Fu Panda" (2008) and "The Croods” (2013).
”It’s with excitement that I am joining Goodbye Kansas to work with the wonderful international team and be back in my hometown after more than 20 years abroad. I am excited about the great work the studio is doing across the games, film &TV industry using the very latest in tehnology and pipeline. I hope to add additional competence and customers for increased efficiency, even greater projects and profitability,” says Markus Manninen, MD Goodbye Kansas Studios.
With Manninen as MD at Goodbye Kansas Studios, Peter Levin will leave his position as CEO at Goodbye Kansas Studios and Goodbye Kansas Holding to focus entirely on his role as Group CEO and the development of the Group. Manninen starts as MD June 30th.
For further information, please contact:
Peter Levin, CEO and Managing Director, Goodbye Kansas Group
e-mail: peter.levin@goodbyekansas.com Phone: +46 (0) 73 041 63 93
Goodbye Kansas Group
Goodbye Kansas Group AB (publ) is a leading company in visual content and emerging technology. The company creates award-winning visual experiences for all media and offers products and solutions with the possibility to scale, combining cutting-edge technology with world-class artistry. Services include VFX, Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), Performance Capture & Scanning, Real Time expertise, Design, Animation, production of Game Cinematics, Digital Humans and development of IP’s & scalable products.
The Group comprises of: Goodbye Kansas Studios (Visual experiences for film, TV and games), Infinite Entertainment (Film/ TV co-productions & IP development), Vobling (Virtual training and XR) Sayduck (3D/AR SaaS solutions for e-commerce), Virtual Brains (Location based mobile games) and Plotagon (3D animation film engine). Goodbye Kansas Group is listed on the Nasdaq First North Growth Market and has studios and offices in Stockholm (HQ), London, Helsinki, Vilnius, Belgrade, Los Angeles, Beijing & Manila.
The company has G&W Fondkommission as Certified Adviser, Kungsgatan 3, Stockholm, Stockholm, email: ca@gwkapital.se, phone. +46 (0)8-503 000 50.
GOODBYE KANSAS GROUP AB 
