Itโs a fairly quiet week for personnel moves in the esports/gaming industry, but not so much for earth moving stories, like all the teams that didnโt getย partnered for Riotโs VCT,ย Twitch banning the play on-streamย of gambling companies that donโt have a license in the U.S., andย G2 Esportsโ CEO getting sanctionedย for partying with notorious YouTuber Andrew Tate. Weโre not covering any of that hereโthere are plenty of places already talking about those thingsโbut we do want to highlight just how bad things were at Australian esports organization ORDER before it went into bankruptcy. On to this weekโs newsletter! –ย James Fudge.
Report: ORDER was Burning Through $300K a Month Prior to Bankruptcy
According to aย report in The Australianย fromย David Swan, Australian esports organizationย ORDERย was not generating any significant profits and was spending hundreds of thousands of dollars a month prior to going into voluntary insolvency earlier this year.ย
On Sept. 16, ORDER insolvency administrator Shane Cremin of Rogers Reidy and creditors met and voted to dissolve the company after concluding that it was posting an average loss of $300K AUD a month, realized a net loss $3.7M AUD for financial year 2022, and owed creditors nearly $62K AUD.ย
Cremin also indicated that a preliminary investigation by his firm had found that ORDER Director Gerard Murphy may have been in breach of his duties: “Whilst I am yet to fully complete my investigations into the company’s access to external funding given the time constraints under the voluntary administration appointment, I consider that the director may have breached his duty under Section 180 of the Act,” Cremin told The Australian.
“The company’s expenditure appears to have been well outside of its means, with significant losses being suffered since its inception. In particular, the company was making losses of an average $300,000 per month in the 2022 financial year with minimal revenue; and the company’s activities are intertwined with other group companies where there is little or no benefit to the company.”
People on the Move
Here is this weekโs list of promotions, hires, and departures in the gaming/esports industry:ย
Esports:
- Saad Sarwarย is the latest to leaveย Galaxy Racer; she announced her exit from the role of senior vice president of the MENA region, pending a hand-over to whomever will take on the role at the end of this month.ย
- Stephen Staglianoย has been promoted to the role of manager of commercial partnerships atย Riot Games.ย
- Maximilian Wischowย has been promoted to product lead organized play (Teamfight Tactics, Project L, Wild Rift) – EMEA esports atย Riot.
- Formerย Repeat.ggย Global Marketing Directorย Scott Bednarskiย joinsย Sony Interactive Entertainmentย as its new marketing program manager in charge of esports and competitive gaming.
- ย Team Infernoย Founderย Jasmine Randolphย has taken on an additional role atย Skillshot Mediaย as video editor for the HBCU Esports League by Cxmmunity.
- Riley Longย will leave his role as head esports coach atย Aquinas Collegeย in Grand Rapids, Michigan at the end of September.ย
- Rainbow Six Siegeย makerย Red Storm Entertainmentย (an Ubisoft-owned studio) has appointedย Elizabeth Loversoย as its new managing director, replacing co-founder and now former managing directorย Steve Reid, who will finally retire at the end of 2022.
- Shapath Shahย formally announced that he has been promoted to the role of project manager at India-based esports organizationย The Esports Club. Shah took on the role in August.
- Zainab Lakdawalaย has also formally announced a promotion to the role of project manager at India-based esports organizationย The Esports Club, a role she began in August as well…
- Jessica Kraneisย has taken on a part-time role as project specialist employer branding atย Bayes Esports.
- ย Jay Hairstonย joinsย XP Leagueย as its new director of special programs.
Gaming:
- Marcus Grahamย leavesย Twitchย after nearly 11 years at the company to joinย Fortis Gamesย as its new VP of community development.
- Former chairman of Worldwide Studios and CEO ofย PlayStationย USย Shawn Laydenย has joinedย Tencent Gamesย as strategic advisor.
- August Dean Ayalaย leaves his role as game director atย Blizzard Entertainmentย after more than 11 years at the world of Warcraft and Overwatch maker.ย
- CeeCee Smithย has been promoted to associate director of live operations atย Ubisoft.
- Cat Jonesย joinsย EA’s Codemastersย division in Southam, England, as its new people practices lead.
- Geoff Goodman, the lead hero designer of theย Overwatchย series, has leftย Blizzard.
- Malinda Dietrichย goes from intern to the role of technical writer atย Epic Games.
- Jerrika Romeroย is promoted to the role of associate creator relations manager atย Epic Games.
- Jay Acevedoย is promoted to the role of strategic operations director atย Brass Lion Entertainment.ย
- Formerย Game Informerย Editor-in-Chiefย Andrew Reinerย joins Borderlands makerย Gearbox Softwareย as its new global creative executive officer.
- Alex Barnettย has been promoted to the role of associate project manager atย Insomniac Games.
- Raymond Bartosย joinsย Blizzardย as its new senior game producer II working onย World of Warcraft.
Other:ย
- Kathryn Marshburnย leavesย Spotifyย to joinย Warner Music Groupย as its new release content managerย
- Disney-owned sports networkย ESPNย has hiredย Susie Piotrkowskiย as vice president ofย espnW.ย
- Kristin Tormeyย has been promoted to the role of director of social media & digital engagement atย The Wendy’s Company.
- Formerย G2 Esportsย social media specialistย Selene Maurettoย has joinedย Virtexย as its new Communications manager.
- Disney Media & Entertainment Distributionย has namedย April Carrettaย as its new head of communications for direct to consumer.
- Christopher Walkerย has been promoted to head of technology (gaming) at betting companyย Sky Betting & Gaming.