The Esports Advocate
Esports business news: deals, legal, and governance.
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A Fresh Round of Layoffs Hit 100 Thieves
In January 2023, the Los Angeles-based esports organization 100 Thieves implemented a workforce reduction, marking the second such event for the company within a seven-month period.
- Esports organization 100 Thieves conducted a round of layoffs in January 2023, with reports indicating approximately 30 employees were affected.
- Chief Revenue Officer Matty Lee, who had been with the company for over four-and-a-half years, was among those laid off.
- The company previously executed a round of layoffs in July 2022, which impacted more than a dozen staff members across its social media and content creation teams.
Team Vitality Inks Three-Year Apparel Deal With Hummel
Paris-based esports organization Team Vitality has entered into a three-year partnership with the French division of the Danish sportswear brand hummel.
- Team Vitality has signed a three-year partnership with the French division of Danish sportswear brand Hummel, naming them the organization's official apparel partner.
- As part of the agreement, all Team Vitality players will wear new Hummel-designed jerseys featuring the organization's traditional black and yellow colors and the brand's signature chevrons.
- The partnership includes a joint marketing campaign titled 'Let’s play together!' that will feature across social media and digital activations throughout 2023.
ESV5 Completes Merger With Ninjas in Pyjamas Through Equity Swap
The Chinese esports organization eStar Gaming Victory Five (ESV5) has finalized a merger with the Sweden-based Ninjas in Pyjamas (NIP) through an equity swap.
- Chinese esports company ESV5 and Sweden-based Ninjas in Pyjamas (NIP) have completed a merger via an equity swap to form a new entity called NIP Group.
- ESV5 CEO Mario Ho and NIP CEO Hicham Chahine will serve as co-CEOs of the newly formed NIP Group.
- The merger facilitates NIP’s entry into the Chinese esports market and expands its competitive footprint into League of Legends and Honor of Kings.
Jordan Sherman No Longer CEO of Immortals
Jordan Sherman has departed from his role as CEO of the esports organization Immortals Gaming Club. Reports indicate that his tenure with the company concluded on December 22, 2022.
- Jordan Sherman is no longer the CEO of Immortals Gaming Club, having reportedly left the company on December 22, 2022.
- The circumstances of Sherman's departure remain unclear, with reports suggesting he may have been pushed out of the organization.
- Ari Segal, who currently serves as executive chairman and co-managing director, is considered a likely candidate to fill the CEO vacancy.
Guild Esports Promotes Jasmine Skee to CEO
Guild Esports, a publicly traded organization listed on the London Stock Exchange and OTCQB, has restructured its senior leadership team to support its strategic growth objectives.
- Guild Esports has promoted former Chief Marketing Officer Jasmine Skee to the position of CEO, effective January 2023.
- Skee succeeds co-founder Kal Hourd, who announced his departure from the company in December 2022.
- The organization added three new senior leaders: Luke Jones as director of esports and gaming, Nick Westwood as senior vice president of creative and strategy, and Georgia Morison as head of events and HQ.
FaZe Clan Promotes Rana Kaplan to General Manager
FaZe Holdings, a publicly traded esports organization, announced a significant leadership restructuring in January 2023 to support its strategic expansion.
- FaZe Holdings (Nasdaq: FaZe) promoted long-time Chief of Staff Rana Kaplan to the role of general manager in January 2023.
- Rana Kaplan joined FaZe Clan in early 2018 and previously held roles at Walt Disney Television, Universal Music Group, EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group, and Warner Music Group.
- FaZe Clan announced five additional executive appointments: Summer Martin (VP of content operations), Stash Slionski (executive producer), Vera Salamone (VP of talent), Brooke Grant (head of Web3), and Laura Ryk (head of creative operations).
2023 South American Dota Pro Circuit Sponsors Revealed
The 2023 South American Dota Pro Circuit (DPC) secured a diverse roster of sponsors for its Winter tour, signaling continued commercial interest in the region's competitive gaming landscape.
- The 2023 South American Dota Pro Circuit (DPC) secured sponsorship from major brands including Burger King, KFC, Pizza Hut, Peruvian telecommunications firm Bitel, data platform GRID, and sportsbook Betsafe.
- Tournament organizer ESB was appointed to operate the 2023 South American DPC, replacing the previous operator, 4D Esports.
- The 2023 DPC Winter Major was scheduled to take place in Lima, Peru, as part of Valve Corporation’s global circuit.
LPL 2023: New Logo, Partners, and NIP Enters the Fray
The League of Legends Pro League (LPL) initiated its 2023 season with significant organizational and branding updates, marking a decade of operations in China.
- The League of Legends Pro League (LPL) has unveiled a new logo to commemorate its 10-year anniversary.
- Chinese apparel brand Li-Ning has replaced Nike as the LPL’s new strategic apparel partner following the expiration of Nike’s four-year exclusive contract in 2022.
- The LPL has secured 14 league sponsors for the 2023 season, including Mercedes-Benz as the chief partner and strategic partners Li-Ning, Jing Dong, and Momchilovtsi.
T1 Replaces Nike With Goal Studio as its Official Apparel Partner
South Korean esports organization T1 Entertainment & Sports has entered into a three-year partnership with the sports lifestyle brand Goal Studio, designating the company as its new official apparel partner.
- T1 Entertainment & Sports has signed a three-year deal with Goal Studio to serve as its new official apparel partner.
- Nike will remain a partner of T1, transitioning from its previous role as the exclusive apparel provider to the official footwear and fitness partner.
- The partnership with Goal Studio provides T1 with increased creative flexibility, including the ability to design custom uniforms for specific events and the potential for home and away kits.
Valorant Pros Claim Nerd Street Owes Them Prize Money and Expenses
Philadelphia-based tournament organizer Nerd Street faced significant scrutiny in early 2023 regarding outstanding financial obligations to professional Valorant players, broadcast talent, and production staff.
- Tournament organizer Nerd Street is facing public allegations from professional Valorant players and production staff regarding significant delays in the payment of prize money and compensation for events held in the second half of 2022.
- Nerd Street CEO John Fazio attributed the payment backlog to issues with third-party partners and the collapse of the cryptocurrency exchange FTX, which had a sponsorship deal with the company.
- To mitigate future financial instability, Nerd Street has shifted its business model to exclusively self-fund events with smaller budgets rather than relying on external partners.
EXCEL Promotes Tim Reichert to CEO
EXCEL Esports announced a significant leadership transition in January 2023, appointing Tim Reichert as the organization's new CEO.
- EXCEL Esports has promoted Tim Reichert to CEO, succeeding Wouter Sleijffers, who is transitioning to a strategic advisor role on the board.
- Rosenbelle Ganan, formerly head of legal, has been promoted to director of operations & legal affairs, overseeing operations in London and Germany.
- Tim Reichert joined EXCEL as esports director in 2021 and was promoted to chief operating officer eight months later.
Award-Winning Producer Bill McCullough Leaves FaZe Clan to Join XFL
Bill McCullough, an 11-time Emmy Award-winning producer, has transitioned from his role as Executive Vice President of content at FaZe Clan to become the Chief Content Officer for the XFL.
- Bill McCullough, an 11-time Emmy Award-winning producer, has been appointed as the new chief content officer for the XFL.
- McCullough departed his role as EVP of content at FaZe Clan in October 2022 after a two-year tenure with the esports organization.
- During his time at FaZe Clan, McCullough oversaw the production of various content formats, including documentaries, podcasts, and the reality-based talent search show 'Faze1'.