The mobile gaming industry is a bustling hub of talent and movement, and this week's jobs digest is a testament to that. From high-profile appointments to strategic shifts, the industry is abuzz with new opportunities and fresh faces. Here's a breakdown of some of the key moves that caught our eye:
Lego's Digital Play Expansion
Lego, the iconic Danish toy brand, is venturing into the digital realm with a strategic hire. Rohan Jain, previously the head of corporate development at Lego and Zynga, takes on the same role at Lego Digital Play. This move signals a significant expansion into the digital space, leveraging Jain's expertise in corporate development and strategic planning. It's an exciting development for Lego, as it seeks to bridge the physical and digital worlds, creating immersive experiences for its fans.
Supercell's Marketing Evolution
Supercell, the Finnish powerhouse behind Clash of Clans, has made two strategic hires to bolster its marketing efforts. Tom Coffey, a seasoned marketing professional from Amazon Games, joins as the regional marketing strategist for EMEA. His experience in global marketing and influencer management will be invaluable. Additionally, Rodrigo Alvarez-Zucchino, a former Opera influencer marketing specialist, takes on the role of creator relationship manager for Clash of Clans. These appointments demonstrate Supercell's commitment to building strong relationships with its players and creating engaging content.
Appcharge's Advisory Board Strengthening
Appcharge, a DTC payments platform, has bolstered its advisory board with the addition of Bernard Kim, a veteran in the gaming industry. Kim's extensive experience as president of Zynga and CEO of Match Group brings a wealth of knowledge to the board. His insights will be crucial in guiding Appcharge's strategic direction and growth in the payments space.
Tilting Point's Board Expansion
Tilting Point, a prominent publisher, has expanded its board of directors with the appointment of Bing Gordonto, a co-founder of EA and former director at Take-Two and Zynga. Gordonto's industry expertise and leadership will undoubtedly contribute to Tilting Point's strategic decision-making and overall success.
Super Evil Megacorp's Frontier Tech Shift
Kristian Segerstrale, a legendary figure in the industry, has made a significant shift in his career. While remaining chair of TMNT: Splintered Fate maker SEMC, Segerstrale is now focusing on frontier tech, compute, energy, and applied AI. This move reflects a broader trend in the industry, where game companies are increasingly exploring new frontiers and leveraging cutting-edge technologies.
Scopely's Creative and Marketing Expansion
Scopely, the maker of Monopoly Go, has seen a flurry of creative and marketing hires. Daniel Geron, previously the senior creative lead of Scopely's Max division, has taken on a new role as head of creative marketing for the live games portfolio. Esther Prats Martínez, a game design intern at Scopely and King, joins the Star Trek Fleet Command team as an associate game designer. Ajeya Kumar, a former Zynga QA lead, moves over to Scopely as QA lead. These appointments demonstrate Scopely's commitment to creative excellence and player engagement.
Rovio's Angry Birds 2 Product Management
Rovio, the creator of Angry Birds, has appointed Alina Mihai as the product manager for Angry Birds 2. Mihai's experience in product management at Wooga and Gameloft Romania makes her a valuable addition to the team. Her expertise will contribute to the game's continued success and player satisfaction.
Zynga's Brand Partnerships
Zynga, a prominent mobile game developer, has welcomed Neha Jha as brand promotional partnerships manager. Jha's background as a freelance digital marketing and brand consultant brings a fresh perspective to the team. Her skills in brand promotion and partnerships will be instrumental in enhancing Zynga's brand presence and player engagement.
Play Ventures' Investment Associate
Play Ventures, a Singapore-headquartered VC firm, has hired Selin Esin as an investment associate. Esin's previous experience at e2vc as an associate will be a valuable asset to the team. Her expertise in investment and venture capital will contribute to Play Ventures' strategic growth and success.
Fortis Games' Game Design Leadership
Fortis Games, the maker of Twilight Towers, has appointed Sebastien Samson as senior manager of game design. Samson's previous roles at Ludia, Kluge Interactive, and Slightly Mad Studios showcase his expertise in game design and development. His leadership will be crucial in shaping Fortis Games' future titles.
Wooga's Marketing and Growth Leadership
Wooga, the maker of June's Journey, has hired Misha Osintsev as senior director of marketing and growth. Osintsev's experience at Kolibri Games as growth director will be instrumental in driving the game's success and player engagement.
Tactile Games' Product Management
Tactile Games, the creator of Lily's Garden, has hired Laetitia Belkhamsa as product manager. Belkhamsa's previous roles at TapNation and Homa Games showcase her expertise in product management. Her leadership will contribute to the game's continued success and player satisfaction.
Dream Games' UI Design
Dream Games, the maker of Royal Match, has hired Eşref Emir Kırçiçeği as UI designer. Kırçiçeği's previous experience at Ludu and Paxie Games showcases his expertise in game UI design. His skills will be crucial in enhancing the game's user experience.
CrazyLabs' Creative Leadership
CrazyLabs, the maker of Coffee Mania and Bus Frenzy, has appointed Ozan Aksun as creative lead. Aksun's previous role as a senior marketing artist at Sunday brings a wealth of creative expertise. His leadership will contribute to the game's visual appeal and player engagement.
Nordeus' Talent Acquisition and Data Science
Nordeus, the maker of Top Eleven, has made eight new appointments to strengthen its team. Luka Stefanovic, Diana Adili, Jaroslav Veseli, Marija Ivanovic, Matija Djordjevic, Nada Avramovic, Nikolina Ilic, and Rastko Kojic bring a diverse range of skills to the company. Their contributions will be vital in driving Nordeus' growth and success.
King's Marketing and Cloud Engineering
King, the maker of Candy Crush Saga, has seen two significant hires. Luken Aragon, previously VP of marketing for Candy Crush Saga, takes on a new role as chief marketing officer. Asawari Joshi, a former Volvo senior cloud/platform engineer, joins King as senior cloud engineer. These appointments demonstrate King's commitment to marketing excellence and technological innovation.
Trailmix Games' Technology Leadership
Trailmix Games, the maker of Love & Pies, has promoted Luke Boniface from lead software engineer to head of technology. Boniface's expertise in software engineering and technology leadership will be crucial in driving the game's success and technological advancements.
ZBD's Commercial Leadership
ZBD, a gaming fintech company, has hired Gordon Thornton as chief commercial officer. Thornton's extensive experience at Sony Interactive Entertainment and Xsolla brings a wealth of knowledge to the team. His leadership will contribute to ZBD's commercial success and industry presence.
Papaya's Performance Marketing
Papaya, the maker of Solitaire Cash, has promoted Lilach Bar-noy Yelin from performance group manager to director of performance marketing. Bar-noy Yelin's expertise in performance marketing and brand promotion will be instrumental in driving the game's success and player engagement.
PikPok's People and Culture
PikPok, the maker of Into the Dead and Rival Stars, has hired Clare Everett as people and culture partner. Everett's experience at Runn in resource management software will be valuable in building a strong and engaged team.
SciPlay's Product Monetisation
SciPlay, a mobile and web games developer and publisher, has appointed Kfir Moskovitz Dolev and Liam Hikrey Nirgad as product monetisation managers. Their previous experience at KPMG Israel and Deloitte brings a wealth of strategic business consulting expertise to the team. Their contributions will be crucial in driving SciPlay's product monetisation and overall success.
In conclusion, this week's jobs digest highlights the dynamic nature of the mobile gaming industry. From strategic hires to leadership shifts, the industry is abuzz with talent and innovation. As the industry continues to evolve, these moves will undoubtedly shape the future of mobile gaming, creating exciting opportunities for players and developers alike.
