It may be tough preserving observe of the varied comings and goings within the video games industry, which is why we compile them in semi-regular round-ups.
You probably have new appointments or transitions in your organization that belong right here, please ship the names of appointees, new position and firm, and prior position and firm to newhires@gamesindustry.biz.
Hannes Seifert | Co-CEO, Crytek
German developer Crytek has appointed Hannes Seifert as co-CEO.
Seifert begins his position on January 1, 2026, and can “concentrate on the enterprise areas of sport manufacturing and publishing.” Crytek’s founder and CEO Avni Yerli “will proceed to be answerable for the strategic course and additional improvement of the corporate.”
Seifert has nearly 4 many years of industry expertise as founder and director of Rockstar VIenna, as effectively as management positions at Deep Silver and IO Interactive.
Previous to becoming a member of Crytek, Seifert was senior director of publishing, EMEA at Riot Video games. He joined Riot in 2019 as nation supervisor for Central Europe, and was additionally director of publishing for Europe.
“It’s an honor to change into a part of Crytek, an organization I’ve all the time vastly admired for its video games, know-how, and values,” stated Seifert.
“I look ahead to supporting the groups in offering gamers all over the world with the most effective motion experiences at present and sooner or later, and I thank Avni for his belief in me.”
Yerli added: “By extending our administration group, we wish to strengthen and additional increase Crytek’s place available on the market. Specifically, we are going to drive development in key international markets with our publishing and sport companies.”
“Hannes will set the course for sustainable development as the brand new co-CEO.”
Tim Cain returns to Obsidian as “full-time worker”
Industry veteran Tim Cain has returned to Obsidian, and is engaged on an unannounced undertaking.
Revealing the information on his YouTube channel, Cain confirmed that he has come out of his contractor position to work on the undertaking in-person.
“I’m not a contractor anymore,” he stated. “So, because of this I’m not working at different locations, though there’s no less than one sport that I labored on [in that capacity for another studio] that I do know goes to ship.”
“I can’t discuss concerning the undertaking I’m engaged on at Obsidian, simply because that’s coated beneath NDA,” he stated. “Don’t hassle guessing. You’re not going to guess proper. I might say that I’m most likely loads much less retired now than I used to be earlier than, in order that entire video I’ve on being semi-retired, I suppose I’m not.”
Cain initially joined Obsidian again in 2011 as a senior programmer. His final full-time roles on the developer have been on Pillars of Eternity and The Outer Worlds. He then grew to become a contractor, and labored on The Outer Worlds 2.
John Getze joins Azra Video games as vice chairman of person acquisition
John Getze has joined Azra Video games as vice chairman of person acquisition.
In his new position, Getze “will lead development technique, efficiency advertising and marketing, and participant acquisition initiatives for Azra’s upcoming flagship title, Ungodly.”
Getze has over twenty years of expertise in “person acquisition, advertising and marketing technique, and data-driven scaling for gaming and digital leisure corporations.”
He beforehand held management roles at Kixeye, Monster, and The Sharper Picture. Previous to becoming a member of Azra Video games, Getze was CMO at World Worldwide.
“I am extremely excited to affix Azra Video games at such a pivotal second,” stated Getze. “The group’s ardour, creativity, and dedication to craft are unmatched, and Ungodly is shaping as much as be one thing really particular.”
Azra Video games VP of development Ken Walton added: “John’s expertise scaling video games and constructing data-powered development pipelines is phenomenal.
“As we put together Ungodly for launch, his management shall be instrumental in bringing our imaginative and prescient to a worldwide viewers. We’re thrilled to welcome him to the group.”
Emily Villatte | CFO, Stillfront
Stillfront has appointed Emily Villatte as CFO.
Villatte has 15 years of expertise throughout varied management roles in monetary companies and know-how development. She was beforehand CFO and deputy CEO at podcast monetisation platform Acast for six years.
After serving as interim CFO, Tim Holland has returned to his position as deputy CFO following Villatte’s appointment.
“I’m excited to affix Stillfront as Group CFO,” stated Villante. “I look ahead to contributing my expertise in monetary and operational management to proceed the corporate’s strategic improvement and to assist the proficient group at Stillfront to ship nice participant experiences and shareholder worth.”
Jon Wilcox joins Renaissance as senior communications supervisor, Emily Britt returns as head of company communications
Renaissance PR has welcomed Jon Wilcox and Emily Britt to its management group.
Jon Wilcox joins as senior communications supervisor, bringing a “distinctive lens that blends important considering, storytelling aptitude, and deep industry perception” to the agency.
Wilcox was beforehand head of communications and occasions at CI Video games. He labored at Team17 Digital for over 4 years, becoming a member of in 2019 as senior PR and occasions supervisor earlier than changing into PR and occasions lead in 2021.
He additionally labored at Jagex for six years, having joined in 2013 as UK PR supervisor after which senior communications supervisor.
Emily Britt has returned to Renaissance as head of company communications, and is answerable for “growing technique, shaping narrative and storytelling, and overseeing communications rollout throughout our shopper portfolio.”
“Emily’s return strengthens our capability to assist purchasers throughout company, CSR, and strategic narratives, and her presence displays our ongoing dedication to constructing a management group that’s each seasoned and future-focused,” stated Renaissance.
Previous to rejoining the PR agency, Britt was senior communications supervisor at Sharkmob. She has additionally labored at Eidos, 2K, Sq. Enix, and The Pokémon Firm Worldwide in senior and management PR roles.
David Grivel | Splinter Cell remake sport director, Ubisoft Toronto
David Grivel has returned to Ubisoft Toronto as sport director on the Splinter Cell remake.
Grivel initially grew to become sport director of the sport in 2021, holding this place for a 12 months earlier than leaving to affix Digital Arts as senior designer director on Battlefield 6.
He returned to Ubisoft Toronto in Might 2024 as sport director on an unannounced undertaking in its conception part.
In December 2024 Grivel joined Worlds Untold, which was subsequently shut down as he was transitioning into the studio design director position.
Grivel initially joined Ubisoft in 2011 as a sport designer on Ghost Recon Future Soldier. He moved to Ubisoft Toronto in 2012 as senior sport designer on Splinter Cell: Blacklist and Murderer’s Creed Unity. He was additionally lead sport designer on Far Cry 5, Far Cry Primal, and Far Cry 6.
Previous to returning to Ubisoft in his present position, Grivel held contract positions at Elysium Recreation Studio as a sport design marketing consultant and at Pixomondo as a gameplay system designer.
Jason Avent | Founder and non-executive director, Six Peaks Video games
Jason Avent has joined QA companies studio Six Peak Video games as based and non-executive director.
Previous to this position, Avent was CEO and founding father of Hardball Video games. Based in 2022 with former pals and colleagues from Boss Alien and TT Odyssey, it raised $5.2 million in seed capital from Griffin Gaming Companions.
Avent held govt roles at FuturLab as non-executive director, TT Video games as studio head, and Boss Alien as managing director.
His title at Boss Alien modified to VP, studio head following NaturalMotion’s acquisition of the developer in 2012.
Avent has additionally labored at Disney’s Black Rock Studio, Climax, Digital Arts, Bullfrog Productions, and Microprose.
Vince Farquharson | Chief video games officer, Good Gate Media
As a part of a management enlargement at cross-platform leisure firm Good Gate Media, industry veteran Vince Farquharson has joined the manager group as chief video games officer.
Farquharson initially joined Good Gate Media as an advisor. He’s at present a mentor for Artistic UK and Video games London, an advisor for Bandit Island Video games, director at Optimum Artistic, and an angel investor for The Recreation Angels.
He beforehand held govt roles at Bossa Studios, Atari, Jagex, and THQ.
Holly Watson | Senior operations supervisor (buyer assist), The Pokémon Firm Worldwide
The Pokémon Firm Worldwide has appointed Holly Watson as senior operations supervisor, buyer assist.
Watson was beforehand head of participant assist at Dreamhaven, as effectively as head of participant assist at Singularity 6.
She entered the industry in 2020 at Riot Video games as participant assist specialist.
Watson held varied positions within the 11 years that she labored for the developer, together with outsource coordinator, NA participant assist sport and account lead, participant assist central sport lead, contact expertise lead, and senior contact expertise lead.
“So ridiculously excited to share that I’ve joined The Pokémon Firm as senior operations supervisor, buyer assist,” stated Watson.
“I am extremely grateful for all of the experiences that introduced me right here, and I am unable to wait to assist form distinctive assist experiences for fellow Pokémon followers all over the world.”
Two new hires at Rokky
PC distribution platform Rokky has welcomed two new hires, influencer advertising and marketing specialist Anastasia Dvoinishnikova and enterprise improvement supervisor Zhang Shui Qi.
Dvoinishnikova labored as an influencer advertising and marketing specialist for 4 years at varied corporations, and was advertising and marketing undertaking supervisor in her earlier firm AAA Company.
“Anastasia joined us this previous October and has already made an ideal begin, offering her experience on the world of influencers and serving to convey new eyes to each Rokky and our gaming purchasers,” stated Rokky.
Zhang will focus her experience on the Chinese language market as enterprise improvement supervisor.
“The Chinese language gaming market is likely one of the most necessary, and but it’s wholly separate from the shared western gaming market,” the agency stated.
“It has its personal guidelines, its personal audiences and builders attempting to get their video games launched inside it, or out of it, have extra hoops to leap by.
“So, we’re excited to welcome Shui Qi aboard and supply her experience to assist the Chinese language video games market and Rokky’s place inside it.”