People on the Move, Sept. 8, 2022
Psyonix Esports Product Manager Cory Lanier leaves the company after more than three years.
I have written a lot about layoffs in the esports and gaming industry over the last several months, but I really want to emphasize that I take no joy or comfort in being the bearer of such sad tidings.
The latest one I take no joy in reporting: If you don’t subscribe to our sister publication The Fudge Retort you may have missed our exclusive story on Wednesday about Vindex-owned gaming center and competitive digital platform company Belong Gaming Arenas. The company eliminated 10 positions in the first week of August as part of a company restructuring plan. You can read about the company’s new franchising model here.
With that rather sad news out of the way, let’s get into this week’s biggest moves in esports and gaming. We’re a little streamlined this week as I get ready to leave the safety of home to attend a wedding! Enjoy. - James Fudge.
People on the Move
Here is this week’s list of promotions, hires, and departures in the gaming/esports industry:
Esports:
Adrian Gale leaves Cloud9 Esports after more than three years to join Riot Games as its new director, merchandise strategy (esports, DTC & licensing).
Cory Lanier leaves Epic Games-owned Psyonix (makers of Rocket League) after more than three years at the company. He most recently served in the role of esports product manager.
Johnathan Jordan is promoted to the role of VP of legal & corporate secretary at OpTic Gaming.
Damian Willoughby leaves his esports/gaming-focused role at Electronic Arts. He served as VP of partnerships for more than a year at the company.
Matt Goodman is promoted to the role of SVP, customer success at Enthusiast Gaming.
Kasey Kramer has left his role at Belong Gaming to take on a role at parent company Vindex as its new chief product officer.
George H. Nowack joins LA-based esports organization The Guard as a graphic and motion designer.
Matthew Cannington leaves Mobile Premier League (U.S.) after only six months to join Amazon as head of social media & newsroom for Alexa.
Shubhank Pal also leaves Mobile Premier League (India) to join JioGames as broadcast manager.
Adam Savinson leaves his role as esports director at Betway after almost nine years at the company.
Grant Rousseau takes on an additional role as director of global esports for CULTIV8 SPORTS. He will continue in his roles as global director of esports and European director of operations for Falcons Esports.
Ryan Crowhurst joins Luminosity as a graphic designer.
Charles Spencer is named esports coach at Ann Arbor, Michigan-based Washtenaw Community College.
Jon Brain joins LionsCreed Esports as its new sport and exercise psychologist.
Hannah Wotton is promoted to the role of program manager, original content, EMEA at Twitch.
Head of Marine Corps. Gaming Ian Mills is named a board member of UKnightedXP.
Yusuf Batliwala takes on the role of senior director - esports & gaming, head of partnership sales (Asia) at SPORTFIVE.
Tiago Paixao has been promoted to lead 3D artist at Team Liquid.
Gaming:
Neil Dejyothi is promoted to the role of production manager at Media Molecule.
Gio Corsi exits IllFonic to join Iron Galaxy as its new head of commercial.
Oliver Parson is appointed to the role of marketing fellow for the Call of Duty Endowment at Activision Blizzard.
Donald Brinkman is named director of the partner program for Minecraft at Microsoft-owned Mojang Studios.
Other:
Former IBM exec William Le Voir-Barry is named chief technology officer and board member at Genuine Marketing Group.
Dusenberry Entertainment Founder Tom Dusenberry has joined G3/Gaud-Hammer Gaming Group as an advisor.
Sebastian Oddo joins Mastercard as its new global digital marketing lead for NFTs, blockchain and Web3.
Will Abreu joins Dexerto as its new senior creative producer.
Mel Ramsay leaves her role as editor-in-chief of GGRecon to join BBC 5 Live Digital as a producer.
After serving as an intern at the San Francisco 49ers and the Seattle Seahawks, DeMari Walker joins Spurs Sports & Entertainment as its new talent academy coordinator.
Ross Curtis leaves UK-based magazine publisher and PC Gamer owner Future to join Saga as its new chief product officer.
Josh West is named the UK managing editor of GamesRadar+.
Luke Barnes is promoted to chief digital officer & chief revenue officer, Europe at VICE Media.
Robert Kyncl will leave his role as chief business officer of YouTube after more than 12 years working at the company.
Marissa Ruskin moves from VaynerMedia to VaynerSports as its new VP of marketing - baseball.
Frank A. Riddick III is promoted to president & chief financial officer of WWE.
Paul “Triple H” Levesque has been promoted to chief content officer of WWE.
Shauna Wilson joins global sports and entertainment marketing agency rEvolution as its new VP of marketing communications. Wilson has worked in various PR roles at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, UFC, and the Philadelphia Flyers.
Former Bayes Esports exec Richard Kidd joins sports odds provider Oddin.gg as its new senior executive advisor.
In Other News
🤦♂️ Xbox Games studio boss wants AI to replace quality assurance testers in the future.
🏆 SBJ's Esports Rising Awards recipients including XSET, HP, and Riot Games revealed.
😎 A League of Legends women's esports league is in the works...
💀 Metaverse scammers and the dangers of buying virtual real estate.
😟 Garena lays off staff around the world.
😩 Snapchat cuts 20% of workforce, will lay off game-related efforts.
🔎 Job cuts may be on the way for Google employees...
🛑 TikTok maker ByteDance blames government crackdown for latest rounds of layoffs.