Vice
Company
Documents about Vice
John Knauss Joins GRID Esports as EVP of Gaming Solutions
GRID Esports has appointed John Knauss as its new Executive Vice President of Gaming Solutions.
- John Knauss, a former Riot Games executive with nearly a decade of experience, has joined GRID Esports as the new Executive Vice President of Gaming Solutions.
- In his new role, Knauss will lead GRID’s Gaming Data Solutions vertical, focusing on tournament management, data distribution, monetization, and integrity for game developers.
- During his tenure at Riot Games, Knauss served as Senior Manager of Technical Product Management, where he oversaw global sports data rights strategy and competitive data programs for League of Legends and Valorant.
Adam Apicella Joins ESL FACEIT Group as SVP of Esports: North America
Adam Apicella has been appointed as the Senior Vice President of Esports for North America at the ESL FACEIT Group (EFG), effective October 2024.
- Adam Apicella has been appointed as the Senior Vice President of Esports for North America at ESL FACEIT Group (EFG), effective October 3, 2024.
- Apicella previously served as the co-founder and president of Esports Engine, a company he departed following its acquisition by EFG in March 2023.
- The appointment reunites Apicella with EFG leadership, including Craig Levine, Niccolo Maisto, and Sebastian Weishaar, after more than 20 years of professional association.
Playfly Sports Rebrands Collegiate Esports Division
Playfly Sports has officially rebranded its collegiate esports division, transitioning from the NACE Starleague moniker to Playfly College Esports.
- Playfly Sports has rebranded its collegiate esports division, formerly known as NACE Starleague, to Playfly College Esports.
- Curtis Winger, the current VP of Esports Operations, has been appointed as the new league commissioner to lead governance alongside an advisory committee of school representatives.
- The organization plans to award over $150,000 in scholarship prizing for the 2024/2025 academic year.
Netflix Games: Mistakes and Opportunities
The gaming division at Netflix is currently undergoing a significant leadership transition, signaling a pivotal moment for the company’s long-term strategy in the interactive entertainment sector.
- Mike Verdu, the executive responsible for Netflix's games business, transitioned to a new role within the company as of July 2024.
- Netflix is currently undergoing a strategic shift to ramp up its ambitions and operations within the video games sector.
NODWIN Hires The Esports Club Co-Founder Ishaan Arya
NODWIN Gaming, a prominent South Asia-focused tournament organizer and gaming festival company, has appointed Ishaan Arya as its new Vice President of Sales and Partnerships.
- NODWIN Gaming has appointed Ishaan Arya, co-founder of The Esports Club (TEC), as its new Vice President of Sales & Partnerships.
- In his new role, Arya will oversee brand partnerships and initiatives for NODWIN’s key properties, including BGMS, DreamHack India, the NODWIN India Premiership, Valorant Challengers South Asia, and Comic Con India.
- Prior to this appointment, Arya served as the head of business development at The Esports Club and worked at the Bangalore-based marketing firm Basik Marketing.
Riot Games Wins Sports Emmy for Worlds 2023 Finals
Riot Games secured the Sports Emmy for Outstanding Esports Championship Coverage for its production of the League of Legends Worlds 2023 Final.
- Riot Games won the Sports Emmy for Outstanding Esports Championship Coverage for the League of Legends Worlds 2023 Final, marking the company's fifth win in the category since its inception in 2020.
- The award-winning 2023 World Championship final took place on November 19, 2023, at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, where T1 defeated Weibo Gaming 3–0.
- Riot Games secured the win against a competitive field that included its own Valorant Champions 2023 Grand Final, as well as productions from the Call of Duty League, ESL FACEIT Group, and BLAST.
ESIC Launches Global Esports Industry Advisory Board
The Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC) has established a Global Esports Industry Advisory Board to provide strategic guidance on critical issues affecting the competitive gaming sector.
- The Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC) has launched a new Global Esports Industry Advisory Board to provide expert guidance on critical industry challenges.
- The board's inaugural members include David Neichel, SVP of Public & International Affairs at ESL FACEIT Group, and Robbie Douek, CEO of BLAST.
- The advisory board will meet as required to address strategic issues and ensure ESIC’s initiatives align with current and future industry needs.
Savvy Games Group Leaders Make Goodwill Trip to China
Savvy Games Group, a gaming and esports entity backed by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund, recently conducted a high-level delegation visit to China to strengthen international commercial ties and advance the kingdom’s Vision 2030 gaming objectives.
- Savvy Games Group Vice Chairman HRH Prince Faisal and CEO Brian Ward visited China to strengthen commercial partnerships and promote Saudi Arabia as a global gaming and esports hub under the Vision 2030 roadmap.
- The delegation held meetings with government officials and industry stakeholders in Shanghai, Beijing, and Chengdu to strategize for the upcoming Esports World Cup in July.
- Savvy Games Group, which is backed by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund, invested $265 million into the Chinese tournament operator VSPO in 2023, becoming its largest international investor.
IESF and GEF Form Esports Leadership Group
The International Esports Federation (IESF) and the Global Esports Federation (GEF) have officially established the Esports Leadership Group (ELG) to formalize their cooperation and implement shared strategic initiatives.
- The International Esports Federation (IESF) and the Global Esports Federation (GEF) have formed the Esports Leadership Group (ELG) to implement collaborative initiatives following a series of memorandums signed in late 2023.
- The ELG is chaired by International Olympic Committee (IOC) Vice President Ser Miang Ng, with participation from IESF President HRH Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud and GEF President Chris Chan.
- The formation of the ELG is part of a broader strategic effort to establish Saudi Arabia as a primary global hub for international esports events.
MMM: GTA Spurs Growth for Netflix Games; Fitness Apps Exhibit Seasonal Bump
This analysis examines recent mobile market trends, specifically focusing on the expansion of Netflix’s gaming portfolio and the seasonal performance of fitness applications.
- Netflix mobile game downloads grew 180% year-over-year in 2023, with 53% of those downloads occurring in the fourth quarter.
- The launch of Take-Two licensed GTA titles in December 2023 significantly boosted Netflix's gaming performance, with GTA: San Andreas reaching nearly 10 million downloads to become the service's most downloaded game ever.
- GTA: Vice City and GTA III also contributed to Netflix's growth, ranking as the 6th and 11th most downloaded titles on the platform in 2023, respectively.
Cloud9 Esports Appoints Tim Mulligan to VP, Head of Sales
Cloud9 Esports has appointed Tim Mulligan as its new Vice President and Head of Sales, effective January 2024.
- Cloud9 Esports has appointed Tim Mulligan as its new VP, Head of Sales, effective January 2, 2024.
- Mulligan joins Cloud9 from XSET, where he previously served as VP, Head of Sales for over a year.
- In his new role at Cloud9, Mulligan is responsible for revenue generation, sponsor relationship management, strategic planning, and brand representation.
Bobby Kotick to Leave Activision Blizzard on Dec. 29
Following Microsoft’s $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard King, the company is undergoing a significant leadership transition.
- Bobby Kotick will step down as CEO of Activision Blizzard on December 29, 2023, following Microsoft's $68.7 billion acquisition of the company.
- Activision Blizzard's leadership team, including the heads of Activision Publishing, Blizzard Entertainment, and King, will now report directly to Matt Booty, the President of Game Content and Studios at Microsoft.
- The CEO role at Activision Blizzard will not be filled; instead, the company is being integrated into the broader Microsoft Gaming organizational structure.