Hey everyone, itโs been a rough week for the esports industry as more people find themselves out of work and thrust into an already over-saturated job market. Not a good time for these people so if you have job openings let me know and Iโll share them with my network.
On another topic, I mucked around a bit with ChatGPT and ended up using it to build out the HTML code for the bulleted list this weekโฆ though there were a few hiccups it worked out pretty well. I think AI is great for taking tedious tasks like this off my plate so I can focus on writing. I wonโt ever use it for writing actual copy, because I enjoy doing it, it will only create boring lines of text, and robots donโt have souls.
Anyway, onto this weekโs People on the Move. – James Fudge.
Note: This articles first appeared in the People on the Move newsletter on Jan. 14, 2022.
Layoffs, Closures, and Other Esports News
After some digging this week and talking to a number of people, I confirmed that Los Angeles esports organizationย eUnited had closed its doorsย – I wrote extensively about it this week for The Esports Advocate. I also wrote about the recent layoffs at another LA-based esports organization,ย 100 Thieves. Around 30 people were let go in a new round of layoffs. Very sad news.
Some other interesting news bits that arenโt sad:
- eStar Gaming Victory Fiveย completed its mergerย withย Ninjas in Pyjamas.
- Riot revealed the format forย League of Legends esportsย in 2023.
- SA Dota DPCย andย LPLย sponsors were revealed this week.
- Team Vitalityย inked three-year deal withย Hummel International.
People on the Move
Here is this weekโs list of promotions, hires, and departures in the gaming/esports industry:
Esports:
- Rob Gedarovichย joinsย Riot Gamesย as senior manager, social media marketing – Esports.
- Luke Jonesย joinsย Guild Esportsย as director of esports and gaming.
- Hennes Heijmansย leaves his role as talent manager atย G2 Esportsย after more than two years.
- York Scheunemannย leaves Google to joinย Bayes Esportsย as chief operating officer.
- Riley Alexis Woodย is no longer withย Nerd Street Gamerย as a broadcast producer.
- Lance Warnerย joinsย Oxygen Esportsย to spearhead marketing & socials for bothย Boston Breachย andย Boston Uprising.
- Leo Linย has been promoted to president of global mobile growth atย Riot Games.
- Rana Kaplanย is promoted to general manager atย FaZe Clan.
- Damian Mathewsย resigns from his roles as COO and CFO atย Esports Entertainment Group.
- Jordan Shermanย is no longer the CEO ofย Immortals.
- Guild Esportsย promotesย Jasmine Skeeย to CEO.
- Luke Jonesย joinsย Guild Esportsย to take on the role of director of esports and gaming.
- Nick Westwoodย joinsย Guild Esportsย as its new senior vice president.
- Georgia Morisonย joinsย Guild Esportsย as the new head of events and HQ.
- Jacob Arceย is promoted to head of esports atย XSET.
- David Luceย joins theย XSETย team as its new chief content officer.
- Jessica Pakย was one of the 30+ people laid off atย 100 Thievesย this week. Pak served as a senior account manager, and has worked for Team Liquid, IGN, Turner, and Turner Sports.
- Trevor Lazarooย joins Singapore-based esports organizationย RSGย as a business development associate.
- Craig Stevensย leaves Belong Gaming to join sister companyย Esports Engineย as its new senior project and planning manager.
- Thomas Trewrenย (“Tommey”), who most recently played for 100 Thieves, will now be represented byย DotX Talent.
Gaming:
- David Jagneauxย joinsย First Contact Entertainmentย as its new strategic communications manager.
- Kerry McKennaย joinsย Gravity Mediaย as audio lead, working with Riot Games.
- Lance Teoย leavesย Activision Blizzardย after more than six years at the company. He most recently served as regional marketing lead for SEA & India.
- Carissa Gonzalezย is promoted to CEO ofย Pixelberry Studios.
- Mike Brownย joins Maverick Games as creative director.
- Joey Paulย is promoted to strategy manager at Rockstar Games.
- Sebastian รrlerydย has joinedย Epic Gamesย as a tools engineer.
- Chris Grovesย leaveย Frontier Developmentsย to join Sumo Digital as its new senior community manager.
- Gabriel Aignerย joinsย Razerย as a social media specialist.
- Petra L.ย joinsย Stunlock Studiosย as its new content marketing manager.
- Kieran O’Learyย is promoted to chief revenue officer atย Gameloft.
- Jim Squiresย is promoted to director of games PR atย Resolution Games.
- Sean McKennaย leaves Dapper Labs to joinย NetEase Gamesย as senior recruiter.
Other:
- Albert Briggsย is promoted to the role of brand partnerships manager – growth gaming atย TikTok.
- Craig Santicchiaย joins gaming & esports consultancy firmย Wolfpad Gaming Ltdย as managing director.
- Dominick Namisย says goodbye to Meta and hello to NeoPeople as head of business development.
- Karl รglandย joinsย Gameplanย as a content creator.
- Hilary Adamsย is promoted to senior director of event experience forย Phoenix Racewayย &ย Auto Club Speedwayย (NASCAR West Region).
- Giulia Mazziaย is promoted to global head of partnerships at AC Milan.
- Julian Elliby IIย is no longer at Loaded.
- Andie Wrightย leaves Twitter to join Spotify as a client account manager.
- Darius Gotayย was laid off byย RESPAWN Productsย this week and is seeking new opportunities. He served as social media and content manager at the company.
- Jason Wilsonย leaves his role as esports editor atย Sports Business Journalย to focus on editing and building the company’s myriad of newsletter products.
- Sally Kevanย joinsย Esports Insiderย as events manager.
- Billy Studholmeย re-joins theย Esports Insiderย editorial team as assistant editor.
- Kevin Warrenย has been named president and CEO of theย Chicago Bears.
- Grant Taylor-Hillย leaves his role as an SEO content lead editor writing about esports to joinย Skyย as group platform control principal problem manager.
- Cristian Nyariย joinsย Appleย to work on sports business revenue optimization.
- Emily Morrowย has left her role as a staff writer atย DotEsports.