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…
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
King (owned by AB)
Chief Financial Officer
Chief Marketing Officer,
CandyCrush
SVP Studios
Head, Game Franchise
SVP Corporate Development VP Brand Marketing
Electronic Arts
Non-Executive Director
Board Review x 2
General Manager China
COO Online, Asia
HR Director, Asia
Chief Financial Officer, Asia
Tonic Games Group
Non-Executive Director
Riot Games
CEO
CEO Succession Planning
Epic Games
Head of Publishing, EMEA
Scopely
Confidential search
Square Enix
CEO, Americas
Chief Marketing Officer, Americas
Management Appraisals, Japan
Glu Mobile
CEO
Chief Financial Officer
Savvy Gaming Group
EVP, Communications
Animoca Brands
Chief Financial Officer
Board Governance Consulting
Betsson
Chief Product Officer
Codere
CFO
Independent Non Executive Board Member
Supercell
3 Confidential Searches (ongoing)
…with expertise that spans PC/console, mobile and social…
Modern Times Group
Culture Transformation Project
Chief Product Officer (ongoing)
ESL
Executive Chairman,
Chief Executive Officer, Turtle Entertainment
Bigpoint
CEO, Europe
Chief Marketing Officer, Germany
Peak Games
Chief Financial Officer
International BD Manager
Strategy Associate Director
HR Director
Mind Candy
CEO
Garena
Chief Marketing Officer
Head of Group Public Relations Director
Games 24/7
VP Marketing, US
Head of Corporate Affairs
Board Advisor
Chief Technology Officer (ongoing)
Magic Leap
Head of Studios
Chief Marketing Officer, US
Changyou
CEO JingMao Film Media
VP Product, China
VP Human Resources, China
Giant Games
Head of Investment
Entain
Project Tulip - CEO
Nexters
NED
PLAYSTUDIOS
Head of Investor Relations
…as well as betting & gambling and gaming technology.
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
Chief Technology Officer
Strategic intro CCO US
Resilient Leadership
Superbet
Chief Financial Officer
Chief Marketing Officer, mapping
Assessment & Development (ExCo member)
Chief Marketing Officer
Sportsbet.com.au
Chief Commercial Officer
Chief Strategy Officer
Trackman
Country Manager, Korea
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)
FORTUNA
CEO
STS Group
Chief Product Officer
Chief Operating Officer (ongoing)
bet-at-home.com
CEO
Star Entertainment Group
Chief Risk Officer
Chief Legal Officer - Confidential
Unity
General Counsel
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.