It is with profound sadness that The Esports Advocate is reporting the passing of long-time ESL FACEIT Group executive Mark Kenneth Cohen on Feb. 21, in New York City. After a courageous battle with cancer, Mark, aged 50, is survived by his wife of seven years and two children, as well as an extended family of colleagues and friends across the esports industry.
Mark’s passion for marketing was evident from the very start of his career. He began his journey at Momentum Worldwide in 1997, later honing his expertise at GMR Marketing and Superfly. In November 2016, he transitioned to the esports industry by joining ESL as senior vice president of live events and experiences—a role he held for more than eight years. His dedication and strategic insight led to his promotion in 2019 to chief relationship officer & global SVP of brand partnerships, where he was instrumental in forging key partnerships. Following the merger of the ESL FACEIT Group, he served in the all-encompassing role of chief relationship officer.
On a more personal note, Mark was deeply admired by and a friend to many of the current and former staff members at both The Esports Observer and The Esports Advocate. We greatly appreciated his friendship, encouragement, and praise over the years.
In a statement issued to TEA Wednesday afternoon, EFG Co-CEO Craig Levine reflected on Mark’s legacy:
“We can confirm that our dear friend and colleague, Mark Cohen, has passed away. Mark played an integral role in the EFG story since joining in 2016. He played a pivotal role in establishing the Intel Extreme Masters and there would be no EFG today without all the incredible work that he did. He believed in living life with passion and purpose, always bringing energy, dedication, and heart to everything he did and will be sorely missed by all those who knew him.“
For those wishing to learn more about his life, you can read Mark’s full obituary here.
The Esports Advocate extends its heartfelt condolences to Mark’s family, friends, and colleagues. In honoring his legacy, we invite supporters to consider making a donation in his name to the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.