Gaming
Over the last few decades, the gaming industry has undergone spectacular growth worldwide. What was previously the domain of hardcore gamers creating niche video games on whirring computers has blossomed into an international, multibillion-dollar phenomenon. Video games are increasingly replacing music as the prevailing form of youth culture.
Due to the distinct culture and ecosystem of the video gaming, eSports, and digital entertainment industry (jointly “Gaming”), we recognized that the needs of gaming clients require a different mindset and approach compared with traditional digital and tech companies. Our dedicated Global Gaming Task Force caters to these specific needs of the Gaming industry. Leveraging their diverse backgrounds, our consultants strive to solve the leadership challenges of our Gaming clients with passion and the ability to connect the dots in a globally converging industry.
Two industry developments stand out in our work for gaming clients:
people movement
- Due to the convergence of gaming with adjacent industries, such as streaming platforms, digital/media and crypto/blockchain, executives have been increasingly moving between industries, notably enlarging the talent pool.
- At the same time, the recent increase in negative reporting about the sometimes cultural challenges of games studios, has contributed to senior talent leaving the industry in search of stability and better working conditions, creating a barrier to diverse talent entering and remaining in the gaming space.
- Female executive talent is rare among the higher echelons of gaming companies, but a new generation of female talent is on the rise.
CULTURE
- Culture has become the Achilles's heel of the gaming industry.
- The industry’s speedy development has given management little time to address hygiene matters, such as corporate culture, or to focus on burning issues, such as diversity and inclusion (D&I). Consequently, cultural ignorance has been pervasive.
- A growing recognition of culture’s importance is about to cause a tectonic cultural shift within the industry.
Global EgonZehnder Gaming Team
EMEA Coverage
Americas Coverage
Asia Coverage
We have a track record in conducting searches across the gaming ecosystem…
Scopely
Confidential search
E-Gaming Federation
Chief Executive Officer
Lego Group
Non-Executive Director, Gaming
Non-Executive Director, Digital
ESL FACEIT
Executive Chairman
Chief Executive Officer, Turtle Entertainment
Chief People Officer, Accelerated Integration
Rovio
Non-Executive Director
Country Head, China
General Manager, Korea
Chief Financial Officer
Activision Blizzard
Chief Commercial Officer
Chief Marketing Officer
Chief Marketing Officer, Call of Duty
Managing Director, EMEA
Managing Director, China
King (owned by AB)
Chief Financial Officer
Chief Marketing Officer, Candy Crush
SVP Studios Head, Game Franchise
SVP Corporate Development VP Brand Marketing
Supercell
Multiple confidential C-Suite level searches
Head of Live Games
Head of Monetization
Franchise GM, Accelerated Integration
Riot Games
Country Manager, Japan
Chief Technology Officer, China
Brand Manager
General Board Consulting
Confidential ongoing project
Savvy Gaming Group
Chief Marketing Officer
Chief Operating Officer
Electronic Arts
Non-Executive Director
Board Review x 2
General Manager China
COO Online, Asia
HR Director, Asia
Chief Financial Officer, Asia
Ubisoft
Multiple Non-Executive Directors
…with expertise that spans PC/console, mobile and social…
MPL
Non-Executive Director
Chief Financial Officer
Modern Times Group
Culture Transformation Project
Chief Product Officer
Non-Executive Director
Dream Games
General Counsel
Executive Producer
Improbable
Chairman of the Board, MSquared
EWCF
Chief Operating Officer
Chief Human Resources Officer
Square Enix
CEO, Americas
Chief Marketing Officer, Americas
Management Appraisals, Japan
Glu Mobile
CEO
Chief Financial Officer
Peak Games
Chief Financial Officer
International BD Manager
Strategy Associate Director
Bigpoint
CEO, Europe
Chief Marketing Officer, Germany
Games 24/7
VP Marketing, US
Head of Corporate Affairs
Board Advisor
Chief Technology Officer
Changyou
CEO JingMao Film Media
VP Product, China
VP Human Resources, China
…as well as betting & gambling and gaming technology.
Tonic Games GrouP
Non-Executive Director
Outright Games
CEO
Two Desperados
Non-Executive Director
Mind Candy
CEO
CleanPlay
Chief Executive Officer
Chief Marketing Officer
HypeHype
Chief Product Officer
Garena
Chief Marketing Officer
Head of Group Public Relations
Director
Magic Leap
Head of Studios
Chief Marketing Officer, US
Flutter Entertainment
Chief of Staff to the CEO
Chief Customer Officer
Aristocrat
Chief Financial Officer, Digital
Senior Vice President, M&A, Digital
General Counsel
Tipico
Chief Operating Officer
Leadership Development Project
Individual coaching for broader leadership team
Superbet
Chief Financial Officer
Chief Marketing Officer, mapping
Assessment & Development (ExCo member)
Sportsbet.com.au
Chief Commercial Officer
Chief Strategy Officer
Embracer Group
Management appraisals
Epic Games
Head of Publishing, EMEA
Trackman
Country Manager, Korea
FORTUNA
CEO
Mobilityware
Chief Product Officer
Scientific Games
Chief Human Resources Officer
Vice President, Finance
Chief Procurement Officer
Chief Technology Officer
Skillz
Vice President, Marketing
BetKing
Chief Financial Officer (ongoing)
Chief Technology Officer (ongoing)
Vice President, Engineering (ongoing)
STS Group
Chief Product Officer
Chief Operating Officer (ongoing)
bet-at-home.com
CEO
Playtech
Non-Executive Director
PMU
Chief Financial Officer
Chief Marketing Officer
We advise you holistically…
Culture
Organization
Teams
Individual
Culture Analysis and Development/Transformation
- Is our purpose clear?
- What are the behaviors displayed at our company?
- What does “great leadership” look like in this context?”
Organizational Development
- Does our structure allow for innovative and agile decision-making?
- Do our structure and systems support (or at least not hinder) our approach to leadership?
Team Development
- Is the team composition right for the purpose?
- Is the team fully aligned?
Executive Search and Development
- Do we make the best people decisions for our most important roles?
- Do we support and develop the right people?
...and leverage our preeminent market position and unique organizational structure
Size, Reach, Scope…
- Egon Zehnder is the world’s preeminent leadership advisory firm.
- With over 560 consultants, working in 63 offices and 36 countries, we collaborate seamlessly across geographies, industries, and functions.
…facilitating a strong focus on distinct industries…
- We operate as a single unit, with a consistent methodology and a single profit center.
- Our “One Firm” approach enables us to dive deep into the gaming industry by leveraging our global resources across all industries and a collective knowledge of 50+ years.
…with a truly holistic perspective!
- Our integrated approach merges executive search with leadership advisory and enables each consultant to look holistically at your leadership challenges.