Jobs roundup: November 2025 | Hutch appoints Andrew Watson as CEO

It may be tough maintaining observe of the assorted comings and goings within the video games trade, which is why we compile them in semi-regular round-ups.

When you have new appointments or transitions in your organization that belong right here, please ship the names of appointees, new function and firm, and prior function and firm to newhires@gamesindustry.biz.

Andrew Watson | CEO, Hutch

Cell developer Hutch has appointed Andrew Watson as CEO.

The previous chief working officer joined Hutch in 2013 as manufacturing supervisor earlier than turning into head of manufacturing in 2014.

He was promoted to COO in 2017, and has since scaled the developer from 12 workers to greater than 140 folks throughout three studios.

Watson has nearly 20 years of expertise within the trade. Previous to becoming a member of Hutch, he was a producer at Digital Arts from 2011 to 2013.

He additionally labored at Playfish in manufacturing and management roles, as effectively as Glu Cell as a QA technician.

“Hutch means quite a bit to me. It’s good, unpredictable and filled with people who find themselves each proficient, as a rule too tall, and far cooler than I’ll ever be,” stated Watson.

“Main it’s thrilling and barely terrifying, which feels about proper for this trade. Due to everybody who has supported me to this point.”

Kim Swift | COO, Close to Studios

Close to Studios has appointed Kim Swift as its chief working officer.

In her new function, Swift will “oversee day-to-day operations, broaden growth infrastructure, strengthen group engagement methods, and assist steer Close to Studios by its subsequent progress section.”

“After attending to know the Close to Studios workforce and listening to about their imaginative and prescient for the studio […] I knew I wished to affix,” stated Swift.

“I am trying ahead to serving to evolve the studio’s operations so the workforce can give attention to making Hawthorn an unbelievable, immersive and charming expertise for our gamers.”

Close to Studios CEO Heather Cerlan added: “We’re so excited to have Kim be part of our small, passionate workforce at Close to Studios. Kim’s management and fervour for empowering inventive groups align deeply with our mission.

“Together with her help, we’re higher outfitted than ever to ship on the promise of Hawthorn and develop the studio in a approach that honors the guts and ambition behind every part we make.”

Earlier than becoming a member of Close to Studios, Swift labored at Xbox Recreation Studios Publishing as head of inventive. She joined as senior director of cloud gaming in 2021.

Swift has held varied management roles within the trade, together with at Google Stadia and Amazon.

She additionally labored at Digital Arts for practically three years, beginning in 2017 as studio design director for EA Motive, engaged on Star Wars: Battlefront 2.

Swift joined the video games trade in 2005 at Valve, working as challenge lead/lead designer on Portal (Orange Field) earlier than turning into a designer/atmosphere artist on Left 4 Useless and Left 4 Useless 2.

Liz Albl | Senior author (Cyberpunk 2), CD Projekt Purple

Liz Albl has joined CD Projekt Purple as a senior author on Cyberpunk 2.

Albl had beforehand been working at Cloud Chamber as narrative lead for BioShock 4 for practically three years.

She began her profession at Ubisoft as a writing intern in 2013, engaged on Murderer’s Creed 4: Black Flag. She turned a author full-time shortly after, engaged on video games such as Far Cry 4, Valley of the Yetis, Far Cry 5, and Watch Canines: Legion.

Albl was then a senior author on Sucker Punch Productions’ Ghost of Tsushima, and a sophisticated author on Monolith Productions’ Surprise Lady.

Balazs Domjan | 3D Surroundings Artist, Epic Video games

Epic Video games has employed Balazs Domjan as a 3D atmosphere artist.

Previous to becoming a member of Epic, Domjan was a 3D atmosphere artist at Romero Video games.

His first place within the video games trade was at Guerilla in 2020 as a 3D atmosphere asset artist engaged on the Horizon franchise.

He joined Blizzard in 2021 as a scene growth 3D artist on Diablo 4, then a dungeon artist in 2022.

Domjan was additionally a 3D atmosphere asset artist at Folks Can Fly Studio between January and December 2024.

Michael Burnham | Studio supervisor, Ubisoft Reflections

Michael Burnham has been appointed studio supervisor of Ubisoft Reflections, taking on from managing director Lisa Opie.

Burnham has three a long time of expertise within the trade, having beforehand held manufacturing and studio management positions at The Lego Group, Marmalade, Rebel, Mucky Foot Productions, Bullfrog Productions, and Digital Arts.

Previous to becoming a member of Ubisoft, Burnham was studio director at Supermassive Video games.

“The energy and supply from video games builders in UK studios is plain,” stated Burnham.

“Inside that treasure trove, Ubisoft Reflections has been steadfast in delivering throughout the long run. Becoming a member of the studio within the superb and energetic Newcastle was a head- turning alternative for me.”

Ubisoft chief studios and portfolio officer Marie-Sophie de Waubert added: “Appointing Michael Burnham as studio supervisor, who has such deep ties to the UK video video games trade, positions Reflections for achievement effectively into the longer term.

“I might additionally like to make use of the chance to thank Lisa Opie for her glorious management and her give attention to strengthening the studio’s groups and tradition. Michael’s arrival builds on that robust basis as he takes the helm at Ubisoft Reflections.”

Karel Kolmann | Senior quest designer – The Witcher 4, CD Projekt Purple

CD Projekt Purple has appointed Karel Kolmann as senior quest designer on The Witcher 4.

Previous to becoming a member of the developer Kolmann labored at Warhorse Studio. He began on the firm in 2017 as a author/sport designer, turning into senior sport designer/scripter in 2021, then lead gameplay designer in Could 2025.

He labored on Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, engaged on “a number of quest and gameplay options” as a “author, designer, and scripter.”

Josh Goldie | Senior PR account supervisor, Raptor PR

Josh Goldie has joined Raptor PR as senior PR account supervisor.

In his function, Goldie will handle “the accounts and workforce for builders and companies within the online game trade,” and produce technique and advertising content material for Raptor PR as a complete.

Previous to becoming a member of Raptor PR, Goldie was senior account supervisor at Began PR, as effectively as senior producer.

He additionally labored at SkyParlour as public relations guide for monetary expertise, and has been the editor-in-chief of Supply Gaming for over a decade.

“After so a few years of maintaining my PR work and my gaming trade work separate, I can now mix these two variations of me and evolve to the subsequent stage,” stated Goldie.

“I’ve already hit the bottom working on some cool tasks, like The Battle of Polytopia by Midjiwan AB – Polytopia and the latest State of PC Video games Distribution report from Rokky, that you might have seen on-line already.”

Goldie added: “I hope to ship extra thrilling gaming trade information to you all within the close to future, and I hope you will all help me as I begin this subsequent leg in my skilled profession.”

Jann Jones | Conference programming supervisor, The Pokémon Firm

Jann Jones has began her function as conference programming supervisor at The Pokémon Firm Worldwide.

“If me and my love of Pokémon, you understand how a lot this implies to me,” stated Jones. “I’m making an attempt to be very chill about this.”

Jones began her profession within the video games trade at PUBG Company as government editor. She then joined Bungie in 2022 as senior narrative self-discipline supervisor, earlier than transferring to GalaxyCon as senior director of creator expertise and publishing.

Jacqueline Clarke | Director of co-development and outsourcing, PlayStation Studios

PlayStation Studios has employed Jacqueline Clarke as director of co-development and outsourcing.

Previous to becoming a member of PlayStation Studios, Clarke labored as a manufacturing director at inventive company KWM and at Key phrases Studios.

She started her profession at Mindwalk Studios as challenge supervisor, and joined London-based animation firm Spov in 2017, turning into director of operations in 2019.

“After a few years working alongside growth studios and companions throughout the trade, it’s a privilege to now contribute from inside an organisation that has formed a lot of what evokes us all,” stated Clarke.

“The inventive excellence of our studios and the collaboration with proficient exterior groups proceed to set the benchmark for what’s potential in video games.”

Robert Saunders | Senior director, territory communications, Rockstar Video games

Robert Saunders has joined Rockstar Video games as senior director of territory communications.

Saunders beforehand labored for Nintendo UK as head of communications for seven years. Previous to becoming a member of Rockstar, he was working for Apple in public relations.

He began his profession as a press officer at Important Media Group, earlier than transferring to Consolidated PR as senior account government.

Seb McBride | Skilled stage designer coordinator, The Witcher 4, CD Projekt Purple

CD Projekt Purple has promoted Seb McBride to knowledgeable stage designer coordinator on The Witcher 4.

McBride joined the developer in 2017 as lead designer on Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales.

He labored on Cyberpunk 2077 and its Phantom Liberty enlargement as stage designer and senior stage designer.

McBride moved to The Witcher 4 workforce in 2022 as senior stage designer.

Previous to becoming a member of CD Projekt Purple, McBride was a stage designer at Pixelbomb Video games. He additionally labored at Traveller’s Tales as a QA tester and junior designer.

Travis Boese | Product administration director, Teamfight Techniques, Riot Video games

Travis Boese has been promoted to director of product administration on Teamfight Techniques at Riot Video games.

Boese began at Riot Video games in 2015 as an affiliate analyst, earlier than turning into a strategic advisor on Legends of Runterra in 2017.

He then turned senior sport producer on the sport a 12 months later, and labored on an unannounced challenge in 2021.

Boese joined the Teamfight Techniques workforce in 2022 as affiliate director of product administration, the place he led enhancements in its cellular efficiency and occasions then monetisation and cosmetics in 2023.

Morgan Nixon | Senior 3D animator, Liquid Leisure

Liquid Leisure has employed Morgan Nixon as a senior 3D animator.

Previous to this function, Nixon labored as a 3D animator for Coatsink and was a gameplay animator on Sucker Punch Productions’ Ghost of Yōtei – a challenge she labored on for nearly two years.

Nixon started her profession at Halo Studios, becoming a member of in 2019 as a summer season affiliate. She turned a junior animator on Halo Infinite in 2019, then gameplay animator in 2021.

Cori Rose | Operations coordinator, Third Form Video games

Cori Rose has joined Third Form Video games as operations coordinator.

Rose beforehand labored at Ubisoft Leamington as a workspace specialist between July 2024 and April 2025 earlier than the function was made redundant.

She began her profession in video games at Sega Hardlight as an operations assistant, and can be a Girls in Video games ambassador.

“This chance is an thrilling new chapter and I can’t wait to dive in and become involved,” stated Rose. “I am so excited to be reunited with Tracy Clark as soon as once more and in a studio with so many acquainted faces and pals.”