Gary Raksis, former head of strategic planning and corporate finance for DreamWorks Animation, has joined LAIKA as chief financial officer.
Raksis will be in charge of business operations and exploiting growth opportunities for the Portland, Ore.-based studio, which released earlier this year its first feature film, Coraline.
‘Gary brings an exceptional range of financial management experience to LAIKA that will be invaluable to our evolution and success,’ says LAIKA president and CEO Travis Knight. ‘His extraordinary business acumen, rare creative sensitivity, and steady governance will provide a foundation for boldly innovative and visionary leadership in our business operations. We are thrilled that Gary has joined the LAIKA family.’
Raksis held several financial roles at DreamWorks prior to being named head of strategic planning and corporate finance in 2004. Prior to DreamWorks, he worked as a research analyst at William O’Neil and Co. and is a graduate of Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business.
Raksis succeeds Alan Keith, who left his job as LAIKA CFO last year to take on the same role at ImageMovers Digital.
