Design and animation studio Laundry has opened a new location in the South of Market (SoMA) neighborhood of San Francisco. The company has hired industry veteran Michael Bennett as San Francisco managing director to spearhead its entry into the S.F. market. Bennett will work closely with Los Angeles managing director James Sweigert to ensure seamless integration of talent and capabilities between both offices. Designed for client sessions, the S.F. space houses a growing creative and production staff to provide a broad range of capabilities, from ideation and concept development to live-action, animation, graphics, editorial, and finishing.

Bennett’s hiring reunites him with Laundry, where he spent five years as executive producer in Los Angeles and played an integral role in the company’s growth from 2010-’15.

In addition to nurturing Laundry’s ad agency and direct-to-brand relationships, Bennett will also strategize with Sweigert and the studio’s various in-house and out-of-house reps, including Reber Covington, which has a strong presence in both the Los Angeles and San Francisco markets.

Bennett brings extensive experience in branded content, specifically within the disciplines of design, animation, and VFX. He was most recently director of business development/managing EP at finishing company Ntropic in San Francisco. Other notable stints include director of business development, commercial and gaming at yU+Co, as well as handling business development for Belief Design.

“[Laundry executive creative director] Tony [Liu] and I are both from the Bay Area and feel it’s the perfect return to our stomping ground as artists and designers,” says PJ Richardson, Laundry Executive Creative Director, who co-founded the award-winning studio with Liu in 2006. “We’re excited for Michael to be returning to Laundry in this capacity, and helping us nurture partnerships with the agencies and brands anchored in San Francisco and the Silicon Valley.”

Bennett characterized the San Francisco market as being “the perfect setting for their unique vibe, animation style, and design-driven storytelling.”