Every week The Esports Advocate publishes a newsletter on dedicated to the biggest moves in esports, gaming, and tangritelly connected industries and re-publishes here every Monday.ย What follows is our big list of movers and shakers in the industry for the week ending Jan. 7, 2023. Enjoy!
Rest in Peace, Volodymyr Yezho
“We are devastated to share the news that our former teammate, Volodymyr Yezhov, was killed in action near Bakhmut while defending Ukraine. His loss is deeply felt by all who knew him. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family and loved ones during this difficult time,” the company wrote in a social media post.
For more information on how to donate to his family, you canย visit this link.
Matthew Potthoff Exits eUnited
On Dec. 31, Potthoff formally announced his exit from the company on social media: “It’s officially my last day at eUnited. I’ve had the past 60 days to reflect on my career here. And I can proudly say I wouldn’t have made any choice differently. I’m leaving with 0 regrets and I’m truly thankful for everyone I managed, learned from, and worked with.” Later he posted aย video on social mediaย thanking the company and everyone he worked with there during his tenure.
Award-Winning Producer Leaves Esports to Return to Sports
The 11-time Emmy Award winner spent nearly two years at FaZe producing a slate of content including Youtube series, documentaries, scripted series, feature films, and podcasts for the organization.ย Like other high-profile executives who jumped from sports to esports, McCullough has decided to return to his roots.
People on the Move
Esports:
- Becker Jungย joinsย T1ย as its newย League of Legendsย general manager.
- James Dashย is no longer a broadcast talent atย League of Legends Championship Series.
- EXCELย promotesย Tim Reichertย to the role of CEO andย Rosenbelle Gananย to the role of director of operations & legal affairs. Former CEOย Wouter Sleijffersย takes an advisory role to the board.
- XSETย Chief Experience Officer and Co-Ownerย Rob Martinย leaves the company for personal reasons.
- Amy Fair Robertsย joinsย XSETย as its new director of public relations.
- Formerย FlyQuestย CEOย Michael Choiย joinsย Cloud9ย as chief product officer.
- Nicolai “HUNDEN” Petersenย joinsย Astralisย as head analyst working with theย Counter-Strikeย team.
- Verona Pintoย joinsย Immortalsย as its new influencer management coordinator.
- Tundra Esportsย extends its contract with Dota 2 Head Coachย Kurtis “Aui_2000” Lingย for the 2023 season.
- Luke Burdonย exits his role as head of partnerships atย Promod Esports.
- Dani Gorriย has joinedย Metasportsย as chief creative officer.
- Ismail Hagiย joinsย BOOM Esportsย as a content producer.
- Formerย Dignitasย Senior Video Producerย Kyu Leeย joinsย Spodioย as director of social media/creative producer.
- Nicole Smithย is promoted to senior partnerships operations manager, North America atย Twitch.
- Jessie Lassiterย is leaving her role as assistant general manager atย Method.
Gaming:
- Paul H. Leeย joins theย Diablo IVย team atย Blizzardย as senior game producer.
- Christian Boothย is promoted to the role of global digital marketing manager forย Overwatchย atย Blizzard.
- Stefanie Pirsichย leavesย Capcomย to joinย YAGERย as its new influencer marketing manager.
- Christian Bourdeauย leftย Activisionย in November to joinย Netflixย as an analytics engineer.
- Wayne Ellardย is promoted to managing director EMEA atย Light & Wonder.
- Steven Messerย leaves his role as content marketing strategist atย Digital Extremes.
- Jason Williamsย joinsย MicroProseย as an executive producer.
- Jamie Kingย joinsย Kalypso Media Groupย as its new senior public relations manager.
- Vishal Naikย has been promoted to the role of senior game producer atย Gametion Technologies.
- Akasha Roseย has left game developerย Cosmic Champs.
- Olov Redmalmย launches a new game studio calledย Moonhood.
Other:ย
- Niles Planteย joinsย Kolexย as director of product management.
- Alexandros Gerontikosย is promoted to the role of head of sales Europe atย Sportradar.
- Vince McMahonย returns to theย WWEย as executive chairman of the board directors.
- Adarsh JKumarย is promoted to content manager forย Valorant,ย Overwatch 2, andย CS:GOย atย Sportskeeda.
- Formerย Ukieย execย George Osbornย joinsย Taso Advisoryย as director of communications.
- Benjamin Stollย leavesย FIFAย to join theย International Ski Federationย as director of digital innovation.
- Andie Romnessย leavesย Austin FCย to joinย TXV Partnersย as head of platform and community.
- David Collinsย leavesย Wassermanย to joinย IMGย as senior VP/regional managing director (MENA).
- Ellie Schuteย is promoted to event executive and team coordinator atย Leaders in Sport.