Chris ‘PapaSmithy’ Smith Joins FlyQuest

Credit: Chris "PapaSmithy" Smith/FlyQuest

North American esports organization FlyQuest announced Thursday that Chris “PapaSmithy” Smith has been appointed to the role of president and chief gaming officer. Smith comes from LA-based 100 Thieves where he served as the general manager of the organization’s League of Legends team, but is best known for his work as a League of Legends caster for OGN and Riot Games during broadcasts of the 2017, 2018, and 2019 League of Legends World Championship.

He joins Michael Choi, who stepped into the top leadership role in June after longtime CEO Tricia Sugita left the company to join Cloud9 as its chief marketing officer. Under Choi’s leadership, FlyQuest was sold to the Viola family in late September for an undisclosed sum—the Viola family own Sunrise Sports & Entertainment, the parent company of the NFL team the Florida Panthers.

In his new role, Smith will focus on improving competitive play and team development across all of the organization’s teams—FlyQuest currently fields teams in League of Legends Championship (LCS), Academy, and competes in Super Smash Bros.—assist with overall business strategy, and help identify new “content opportunities, activations, and fan engagement.”