Haymaker VFX has officially acquired the renowned Swedish visual effects studio SWISS, a strategic move that brings together two long-established names in high-end visual effects and significantly strengthens Haymaker’s creative and production footprint in Stockholm. The acquisition forms an integral part of Haymaker VFX’s wider corporate growth strategy as the studio actively expands its operational capacity, technological capabilities, and international reach across the dynamic sectors of advertising, entertainment, and immersive digital experiences.
Founded originally by visionary leader Alex Hansson, Haymaker VFX has successfully carved out a strong, highly respected position across the high-end advertising and entertainment landscapes. The studio currently maintains active operations in Gothenburg and Los Angeles, and this newly established expansion in Stockholm further solidifies its European foundation. Meanwhile, the company’s North American operation, which is expertly led by Leslie Sorrentino, provides a vital, localized base for the studio’s continuously growing relationships with major advertising agencies, top-tier production companies, and prominent entertainment clients across the North American market.
The acquisition comes on the heels of a remarkable period of financial and operational momentum for Haymaker VFX. The studio has proudly recorded three consecutive years of impressive, sustained growth, highlighted by a massive revenue increase of approximately 57 percent between 2024 and 2025. This surge has been driven directly by an expanding international client base and an increasingly ambitious slate of project work. Recent high-profile credits for the studio include critical contributions to Amazon Prime’s hit series Fallout for its second season, as well as breathtaking visual effects work for The Wizard of Oz project at the cutting-edge Sphere venue in Las Vegas.
SWISS, which was originally established back in 2002, has spent more than two decades building an exceptional, globally recognized reputation in the realms of visual effects and animation. Throughout its storied history, the studio has collaborated closely with leading directors, prestigious agencies, prominent production companies, and major international brands. SWISS is perhaps best known throughout the global industry for its trailblazing work in high-end advertising, most notably including Volvo Trucks’ iconic and culturally defining campaign, "The Epic Split." That legendary project captured widespread global acclaim and ultimately earned two prestigious Grand Prix honors at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. Under the terms of the acquisition, the talented artists and creative professionals from SWISS will now officially join the Haymaker VFX family, injecting significant creative depth, technical mastery, and expanded capacity into Haymaker’s burgeoning Stockholm operation.
Significantly, the well-known SWISS brand name will remain intact following the acquisition. This thoughtful decision preserves more than two decades of rich creative heritage, industry recognition, and brand equity that the studio has carefully cultivated over the years. Furthermore, leadership from both organizations emphasizes that the two companies share a remarkably strong cultural fit. They are united by a common, unwavering focus on master craftsmanship, high creative ambition, and a deeply collaborative approach to every project they undertake.
In addition to expanding its creative talent pool and bolstering its artistic capabilities, Haymaker VFX has consistently invested extensively in cutting-edge technology and robust pipeline development. The studio has continually integrated innovative new tools into its workflows—including artificial intelligence applications—precisely where those tools can genuinely enhance both creative execution and production efficiency without sacrificing the artistry at the core of their work.
Alex Hansson, the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Haymaker VFX, reflected on the significance of the acquisition and the natural synergy between the two teams. "SWISS has built an internationally respected brand, body of work, and team over more than twenty years," Hansson noted. "We share the same passion for craft, creative ambition and close collaboration, which makes this a very natural fit. Bringing our strengths together gives Haymaker VFX greater creative depth and capacity at a time when we are ready to accelerate our international growth and take on more of the world’s most demanding projects, while staying true to the boutique model that defines us."
Echoing those sentiments from across the Atlantic, Leslie Sorrentino, President of North America for Haymaker VFX, emphasized how the merger benefits the studio’s international client base, particularly within the crucial North American market. "North America remains a major growth market for Haymaker VFX," Sorrentino explained. "Clients increasingly want partners that can stay close and responsive while still having the depth to handle larger, more complex scopes. The addition of SWISS strengthens what we can offer those clients without changing the way we work with them."
Speaking on behalf of the legacy Swedish studio, Erik Holmedal of SWISS highlighted the exciting possibilities that lie ahead for the team as they integrate into the larger Haymaker organization. "SWISS has always been about craft, creative ambition and the people behind the work," Holmedal stated. "Joining Haymaker VFX gives our team the opportunity to build on that heritage as part of a broader international platform with the same creative values."
