Lobo, a São Paulo-based design and animation studio, is staking its claim in new territory with the official opening of its first U.S. office. Partners Nando Cohen, Gabriel Nobrega and Mateus de Paula Santos announced that industry veteran Luis Ribeiro has been named partner and executive producer of the New York office, where he will spearhead all of Lobo’s U.S. operations. 

A native of Brazil, Ribeiro has worked in the U.S. over the last 25 years. Previously, Ribeiro was EP at Framestore NY, where he oversaw business development for the studio’s four main integrated advertising divisions. Prior to that, he worked as the U.S. consultant for FilmBrazil, was new business developer at Whitehouse Post, and VP of the Latin Division for Deluxe Entertainment, and held MD and VP of business development positions at such companies as Speedshape, Method Studios, Beast, and CO3.

Founded in 1994 by Cohen and de Paula Santos, Lobo covers a broad range of media and techniques including 2D animation, stop motion, 3D, VFX and live action. After quickly growing to major player status among top ad agencies, TV networks and film studios in Brazil, Lobo expanded its structure to cater to markets all across Latin America, Europe and the U.S. Along the way, Lobo has raked in plenty of awards recognition from D&AD, The One Show, Cannes Lions, Art Directors Club, and other competitions.

Lobo has been steadily bolstering its ties to the U.S. market via its satellite office launched in Brooklyn last year under the creative direction of Guilherme Marcondes, a member of the original Lobo roster. The addition of Ribeiro elevates the status of the US office, making it an official outpost in addition to São Paulo. Together Marcondes and Ribeiro will work closely with global head of production Loic Dubois. 

Marcondes recently earned accolades for the whimsical “The World of Autism” PSA he and Lobo created in partnership with BBDO NY for Autism Speaks. Touching and informative, the piece educates parents how to identify the early signs of autism in their own children. The film was awarded the Gold Cannes Lion for Design, Motion and Animation, along with two Bronze statues for Art Direction and Animation. This year Lobo returned from Cannes with 12 Cannes Lions in total. 

Lobo is represented by Lisa Houck of Salon Reps for the West Coast and Isabel Echeverry of Kontakto Reps for the Hispanic market.