The esports industry is full of talented people. As a result, thousands of companies from multi-billion-pound developers to new startups are constantly shuffling their leadership teams.
So that you stay up to date, Esports Insider has sifted through the industry’s key movers and shakers in October, simplifying the process for you—the reader that values their time.
Martin ‘Deficio’ Lynge joins Misfits Gaming Europe as Director
Martin ‘Deficio’ Lynge, former League of Legends player and caster, has joined North American organisation Misfits Gaming Group.
Deficio, now Director of Misfits Gaming Europe, will oversee all of the organisation’s activities in the region.
DreamHack Sports Games appoints Roger Lodewick as CEO
DreamHack Sports Games, popular esports tournament organiser, has appointed Roger Lodewick as CEO.
Lodewick served as the Co-CEO of DreamHack until recently, when the company merged operations with ESL to create ESL Gaming. ESL and DreamHack will remain as independent brands, however, with Lodewick as DreamHack CEO.
Blocksport adds Heinrich Zetlmayer as Board Director
Mobile-application solutions provider Blocksport announced in October that Heinrich Zetlmayer, formerly the Vice President of IBM, will join its board of directors.
Zetlmayer is also an executive board member at ESL Gaming.
Lachlan Thomson joins Luckbox as Head of Performance Marketing
In early October Luckbox announced the acquisition of Lachlan Thomson, formerly of esports betting site Unikrn, as its Head of Performance Marketing.
Luckbox announced in July that its funding round ahead of an expected listing on Toronto’s TSX Venture Exchange, which is still yet to happen, closed at $5m CAD (now £2.87m).
Co-founder Joel Holmes-Darby departs Excel Esports
Joel Holmes-Darby, Co-Founder of Excel Esports, left the organisation in October.
Though no reason has been given for the departure, Excel has recently undergone major personnel changes, with Wouter Sleijffers and Robin McCammon introduced as CEO and CCO, respectively. Holmes-Darby posted on Twitter that his time at Excel “ended prematurely”.
ISFE appoints Sergi Mesonero as Head of ISFE Esports
ISFE Esports, an independent federation that aims to enrich the integrity of esports in Europe, announced in October the acquisition of Sergi Mesonero as Head of ISFE Esports. Mesonero was formerly LVP Public Affairs Vice President and CEO.
ISFE, founded in August 2019, now boasts various high-profile members such as Activision Blizzard, Ubisoft, Twitch, Electronic Arts, Riot Games, and Epic Games.
Hotdrop appoints Mark Laurie as Head of Business Development
Esports creative marketing agency Hotdrop has appointed Mark Laurie as its new Head of Business Development.
Laurie will be leaving Utopia Computers, where he served as Marketing Director for 14 years, to join the UK-based esports startup. According to the press release, Laurie will use his experience to head the agency’s business-development arm, helping to deliver a ‘white-glove service’ of creative marketing for clients.
ORDER Co-founder Jake ‘Spawn’ Tiberi resigns
Following Riot Games’ discontinuation of the League of Legends Oceanic Pro League (OPL), Jake ‘Spawn’ Tiberi has resigned from Australian esports organisation ORDER.
Spawn was ORDER’s Co-Founder. According to an official release, he aims to pursue other opportunities in League of Legends, though it remains to be seen exactly what a future role might entail.
