Creative studio Carbon has announced two senior promotions, reinforcing its commitment to agility, innovation, and creative excellence across its global studios.

Matthew McManus has been promoted to Managing Director of Carbon, taking on a global leadership role across all offices. In New York, Lauren DeFelice steps into the role of Executive Producer, returning to her home market after leading production in Chicago.

McManus brings a bold vision for innovation and a sharper, more agile operating model. In his expanded role, he will lead Carbon’s evolution globally, accelerating strategy, aligning teams, and shaping a more connected, responsive studio. His approach balances new frictionless ways of working with a continued commitment to high-end creative craft, supported by Carbon’s move to cloud-based production, which has increased efficiency, strengthened collaboration across offices, and elevated creative output.

In New York, DeFelice’s promotion marks a pivotal shift from execution to leadership. A native New Yorker, she returns energized to build on Carbon’s momentum: strengthening client relationships, expanding the roster, and empowering teams to deliver standout work. Her experience across multiple offices gives her a unique, holistic perspective on the business and culture.

“These promotions mark an important step in how we’re evolving Carbon,” said Catherine Tobiasinsky, CEO. “The way work is created is changing fast, driven by new technologies, new pipelines, and a much closer connection between ideas and execution. Our focus is on building a studio that can operate seamlessly across those shifts: where craft, technology and talent are fully integrated.

Matt’s role is critical to that. Bringing a clear, global vision for how Carbon evolves as one connected business, embracing new tools and ways of working without losing what makes the work exceptional. Lauren complements that with the leadership instinct to scale relationships and teams in a more fluid, responsive model. This is about shaping a more adaptive, future-facing Carbon. One that’s set up not just for where the industry is, but where it’s going.”

McManus’ promotion reflects Carbon’s broader philosophy of empowering talent, sustainable growth, and creative excellence. “We’ve worked hard to develop the ‘Carbon way’ giving artists ownership over their work and the tools they need to achieve their best,” says McManus.

Together, these promotions reflect Carbon’s continued investment in leadership that can move quickly, think strategically, and elevate the work.

Creative Studio Carbon is now represented by Stellar Mass in the East Coast market, across their work in design, animation, live-action production, color, and VFX.

“Carbon has built a longstanding reputation for elevating ideas through artistry and technical excellence,” says Jake Strom, Founder at Stellar Mass. “What excites me most is their ability to merge craft and innovation across VFX, character design, and animation. They’re more than great partners – they’re true creative collaborators who consistently push the work forward. I’m proud to be part of their next chapter.”
 
“I’m really excited to have Jake on the team,” says Carbon EP in NY, Chloe Sedelmaier. “He has curated an incredible roster of companies, is amazingly well connected and has a drive I haven’t seen in a really long time. Having come from a sales background myself, it’s a rare entity in a person – the type of work his companies are winning is all the proof we need!”
 
“Carbon fits in like a nice puzzle piece to this grouping of companies. Being the sister company and post arm of editorial company Whitehouse Post, we’re able to act as the post option, or fill any individual service; whether it be full scale VFX, high end animation/character design, or color and finishing – it’s a solid solution to the production pipeline,” ends Sedelmaier.

Digging this news? Get in touch to talk about your project.

Senior Producer Daisy Schmitt has joined creative studio Carbon. Schmitt brings with her a wide range of experience and connections across all stages of commercial production. The senior producer spent the past twelve years in both full time and freelance roles at ad agencies, production companies, and post houses including Johannes Leonardo, JOAN Creative, Scholar, ArtClass, and Voyager Productions.

“Daisy has such a visible drive and passion for what she does. It’s infectious!” says Chloe Sedelmaier, Carbon’s Executive Producer in New York. “She approaches everything she does with energy, warmth, and a smile. That quality is so incredibly helpful in a production role like hers, ensuring our clients have a trusted partner with them every step of the way. Daisy’s role will include a focus on the projects we share with Whitehouse Post, our sister editing company, further strengthening our ability to package editorial, VFX, color, and finish under one roof.”

Schmitt explains, “Carbon is full of warm, talented, and thoughtful people. Exactly the type of place I’ve been wanting to put down roots. Plus, the work is incredible! Chloe and I have worked together in the past, so having that instant connection and easy collaboration with my New York EP is invaluable. We already speak the same language!”

From CG-heavy and complex VFX work, to finishing and color, Schmitt has wide-ranging industry knowledge that informs and enhances every job she works on. “My career has been extremely varied, and I view that as a major strength. It’s all about approachability and openness for me. I want every client to feel like we are close collaborators, because we are! Transparency is what creates real trust. I never want anything to feel like a mystery, and I want clients to feel like they can come to me with anything.”

Schmitt continues, “I’m thrilled to be working with the brilliant minds at Whitehouse, further enhancing the already amazing pipeline for editorial, finish, and delivery. I will be engaged right from the start to help provide the same dedicated care from the very beginning, making sure that everyone feels supported and confident throughout.”

A few of Schmitt’s career highlights include producing a Super Bowl spot for Peacock and a complex CG holiday campaign for MAC Cosmetics featuring a 24k gold city and flying trains. In addition, she has produced campaigns for Bose, Converse, Coterie, eBay, Google, Movado, and Volvo. “I also foster rescue dogs, so I have my finger on the pulse for adorable pups that need a home too!” ends Schmitt.

Digging this news? Get in touch to talk about your project.

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Check it out in LBB, Shoot, & Shots.

Thank you Agustina Gastaldi Ferrario, for bringing your skills to the court with us on this one ❤️‍🔥🤘🏀

Our ‘Repeater‘ team picked up two trophies this year’s Clio Awards.

⚡ SILVER – Design Craft: Animation
⚡ BRONZE – Film Craft: Animation

HUGE thank you to everyone who came together to create our band of misfit rebels. We couldn’t do it without you. And even if we could, we wouldn’t want to 🤜🤛

What do Clint Eastwood, Kenan Thompson, and The Joker have in common? Our smooth operator and Chicago EP Gretchen Praeger has the answer.

As EP, Gretchen oversees all production at Carbon Chicago. Managing campaigns for the likes of Budweiser, Jeep, and Nintendo has earned her a reputation as one of the most trusted pair of hands in the biz. She caught up with with Screen Magazine for a rapid round of ‘Five Questions with SCREEN.’

SCREEN: So Gretchen… Who is the most famous person you’ve ever met?

GRETCHEN: When I was in elementary school my mom and I were seated next to Clint Eastwood in a small restaurant!

More recently… Carbon worked on Season 2 of Somebody Somewhere, and even though it wasn’t in person, it was fun to be on Zoom calls with Jay Duplass. I’ve been a fan for years.

Check out the rest of Gretchen’s round of ‘Five Questions with SCREEN.’here

Have a project you want to talk to Gretchen about? Hit her up here.

Explore some of Gretchen’s latest campaigns below.

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Happy Holidays & Warm Wishes from us all at Carbon! We’re so grateful for your valued partnership and support throughout ’22.

With your help, along with our friends at Whitehouse and Cap Gun, we were able to donate to Oceana and support their work protecting the world’s oceans.
 
To celebrate the end of a year full of creative collaborations, enjoy the visual treat created by Carbon designer Yong Ho Kim. Huge shout out to Wave for the festive base and bell filled sound design! 
 
Cheers to you all & more shared adventures in ‘23! 

Welcome Justin Leung (aka Techno Space Kitty). We are over the moon you’ve brought your amazing skills and cool kitties to the team.

Thanks for this celebratory animation 🚀!