Leadership changes continue to shake up the mobile gaming industry, and July 2025 brought another round of big moves at the top. Here’s a full rundown of who’s leading the charge across mobile game spaces in July.
Hashem Alborno – Gaming Director at Vanguard
Hashem Alborno has joined VANGUARD as the new Gaming Director, taking charge of publisher activations for the Esports World Cup. He’ll be the key link between game publishers and internal teams to bring each title to life at the event. Before this, Hashem co-founded Gamers Lounge, where he helped build one of the region’s top gaming communities and led major esports partnerships.
Damon Baker – VP of Digital Licensing at Hasbro
Damon Baker has joined Hasbro as Vice President of Digital Licensing, where he’ll connect Hasbro’s iconic brands with game studios around the world. His role will focus on building new digital experiences and partnerships. Before this, Damon worked at Tencent Games and has held key roles at Nintendo, Microsoft, Kepler Interactive, and more.
Kay Xu – Investment Director at Hat-Trick Capital
Kay Xu begins new role at Hat-Trick Capital as Investment Director, where she’ll focus on global investments in gaming and entertainment studios. She brings deep industry experience from roles at YAHAHA, MOONTON, NetEase, and bilibili, where she led growth strategies, major deals, and international expansions.
Ilker Yoldas – VP of Product at Felicity Games
Ilker Yoldas has joined Felicity Games as VP of Product, where he’ll lead product strategy and development. He’ll focus on game design, monetization, and improving user experience. With over 20 years in the industry, Ilker has held key roles at Peak Games, AdColony, Homa, and TapNation.
Chantay Louis – Marketing Communications EMEA Lead for 2XKO at Riot Games
Riot Games welcomed Chantay Louis as the Marketing Communications Lead for 2XKO across EMEA. She’ll drive community growth and lead marketing strategies for the upcoming fighting game. Chantay brings experience from Konami, Bandai Namco, and Curve Games, where she led major campaigns and built strong player connections.
Olivier Perbet – Chief Marketing and Revenue Officer at IO Interactive
Olivier Perbet has been appointed Chief Marketing and Revenue Officer at IO Interactive, where he’ll lead publishing and commercial strategies for big titles like 007 First Light and Hitman. He previously worked at Warner Bros. as International Marketing Director, driving global campaigns across digital, TV, cinema, and more for WB Interactive Entertainment.
Michelle Zou – Head of EU Publishing at Avia Games
Michelle Zou has joined Avia Games as Head of EU Publishing, where she’ll lead the company’s expansion across Europe and strengthen partnerships with local studios. Previously CEO at Bigpoint, Michelle brings strategic and operational experience in growing gaming businesses and delivering impactful player experiences.
Emily Villatte – Chief Financial Officer at Stillfront Group
Stillfront Group has appointed Emily Villatte as its new Chief Financial Officer, starting January 2026. She will also become part of the company’s executive management team. Emily brings over 15 years of experience in tech, finance, and business growth, with past roles at Acast and JLT Group.
Anna Yukhtenko – Associate Director of Analytics at Homa
Anna Yukhtenko has joined Homa as the Associate Director of Analytics. She will lead the analytics for the popular game All in Hole and help guide how Homa uses data to improve its games and decisions. Before this, Anna was the head of analytics at Hutch. Her experience will support Homa’s growth and its focus on using data more effectively.
Bill Money – Game Director at Rocksteady Studios
Bill Money has joined Rocksteady Studios as the new Game Director. He will lead the creative vision and development of future projects, helping shape the direction of the studio’s upcoming games. Bill previously worked at Ubisoft Singapore, where he contributed to major titles like Assassin’s Creed Mirage, Valhalla, and Origins.
Olga Gordeeva – Chief Executive Officer at Playhop
Olga Gordeeva has been promoted to CEO of Playhop, a global browser-based gaming company. She previously served as Chief Revenue Officer, where she led growth through partnerships, user acquisition, and new monetization strategies.
Christophe Derennes and Charlie Guillemot – Co-CEOs of Ubisoft and Tencent’s New Studio
Ubisoft has appointed Christophe Derennes and Charlie Guillemot as co-CEOs of its new studio formed in partnership with Tencent Games. This move follows Tencent’s major investment to help grow Ubisoft’s biggest franchises. The new team will focus on expanding Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six into larger global brands. Both leaders bring strong experience from within Ubisoft to guide this new chapter.
Marcus Lim – Overseas PR Lead at MOONTON GAMES
MOONTON GAMES has promoted Marcus Lim as its new Overseas PR Lead, highlighting the company’s focus on expanding its global brand presence. He will handle PR for the company’s games and corporate efforts across B2B, B2G, and B2C sectors.
Daniel Bowen – Growth Lead at Stash (EMEA)
Daniel Bowen announced that he is joining Stash as Growth Lead for the EMEA region. In this role, he will help drive user growth and business expansion across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
Mateusz Janczewski – Director of Studio Operations at Electronic Arts
Mateusz Janczewski has started a new role as Director of Studio Operations at Electronic Arts (EA), based in Helsinki. In this position, he will support studio leadership and operations across EA’s teams and projects. He brings over a decade of experience, including recent roles at Netflix’s Next Games studio and as founder of SUBPIXELS.
Hajar Noreddine – VP of Business Development at ZBD
ZBD has appointed Hajar Noreddine as its new Vice President of Business Development. Hajar has been a close partner to ZBD for the past three years, making this move a natural next step. She brings strong expertise in rewarded gaming, user acquisition, and mobile advertising.
Thales Martins Neto – Intern in Project Management at Studio Ellipsis, FunPlus
Thales Martins Neto has rejoined the Lisbon team at Studio Ellipsis, FunPlus, as an Intern in Project Management. After taking a short break to focus on his master’s studies, he’s now back to continue his journey with the studio.
Sérgio Alexandre – Lead Development Tester at Studio Ellipsis, FunPlus
FunPlus has welcomed Sérgio Alexandre as the new Lead Development Tester at its Lisbon-based Studio Ellipsis. He will play a key role in testing and ensuring the quality of upcoming game projects.
Quinn Shelton – Vice President and General Manager at Scopely
Quinn Shelton has joined Scopely as the Vice President and General Manager. He previously led a large team at Epic Games, overseeing major titles like Fortnite, Rocket League, and Fall Guys. In his new role, Quinn will lead Scopely’s game studios and operational strategy, using his global product management expertise to strengthen the company’s franchise portfolio and player experience.
Matt Wyble – President at Second Dinner
Matt Wyble has been promoted to President at Second Dinner, a recognition of his key role in the studio’s success. He previously served as Chief Operating Officer and was instrumental in the development of Marvel Snap.
Ngoc Do – Country Head of Vietnam at InMobi Advertising
Ngoc Do has joined InMobi Advertising as the new Country Head of Vietnam. She will lead business development and customer success for gaming and user acquisition partnerships. Previously at Google, she managed key accounts and drove partner growth through data-driven strategies. She also played a key role in expanding AnyMind Group’s publisher business internationally.
Mike Geig – Principal Advocate at Unity
Mike Geig has been promoted to Principal Advocate at Unity, recognizing his strong contributions to developer education and community engagement. He has led training programs, built learning platforms, and delivered keynotes globally, helping creators at all levels grow with Unity.
Ekaterina Baturina – Head of Business Development at ZeptoLab
Ekaterina Baturina has joined ZeptoLab as the new Head of Business Development, bringing extensive experience from roles at Vizor Interactive and Wargaming. In her new role, Baturina will help ZeptoLab scale its global presence, supporting the studio’s push for innovation and broader international reach.
Devin Nambiar – Chief Operating Officer at Mattel163
Devin Nambiar has been appointed as the COO at Mattel163, where he will oversee global game development, operations, and publishing for the company’s digital portfolio. With a strong background in gaming and leadership, Devin is set to drive growth and innovation as Mattel163 expands its reach through beloved Mattel franchises.
Ali Habib – Gaming Lead at UNICEF UK
Ali Habib has been promoted to Gaming Lead at UNICEF UK, following his impactful work as a Gaming Partnerships Specialist with the organization. He has managed campaigns that engaged the gaming community to raise both funds and awareness for UNICEF’s causes.
Learn more about the industry hires and power shifts this year:
