Esports infrastructure company Vindex has welcomed new additions to its management team after announcing the acquisition of GAME’s Belong Gaming Arenas division.
Earlier today, Esports Insider reported that Vindex was set to acquire Belong’s gaming arena brand. The move has since been confirmed, as the company has partnered with GAME Digital to establish a global esports gaming centre chain.
RELATED: Vindex reportedly set to acquire GAME’s Belong
Vindex will operate Belong Gaming in the US from its New York headquarters, as it prepares to begin rolling out Belong Arenas across the country. Esports Engine, a turnkey esports operations company owned by Vindex, will partner with Belong Arenas to provide league design, operations, and tournaments through Vindex’s software platform.
Vindex plans to invest $300M (£231 million) over the next five years to open over 500 esports venues in the United States and a further 1,000 in other countries, with a focus on Europe.
Martyn Gibbs, CEO of GAME Digital, will join the Vindex management team as CEO of Belong Gaming to oversee the expansion throughout the US and develop a global strategy. “I am delighted to join Vindex and lead Belong Gaming as we continue the rapid expansion of the arenas,” stated Gibbs in a release. “Since the beginning, the Belong team has been successful at creating a network effect for members.”
RELATED: Envy Gaming and Belong partner to bring gaming centres to North Texas
Mike Sepso, CEO of Vindex, welcomed Gibbs’ experience in the company’s quest to expand: “Martyn is a true innovator and one of the most respected executives in the industry, with more than 25 years of experience, most recently as CEO of one of the world’s largest gaming retailers. We are thrilled to have him lead the next phase in our esports infrastructure strategy.”
Further additions to the management team include the appointment of Adam Apicella, CEO of Esports Engine as Vindex’s Chief Experience Officer, while Rahul Jaiswal joins as Finance Director.
Meanwhile, today has also seen the announcement of a partnership between Envy Gaming and Belong that will bring multiple gaming centres to North Texas.
Esports Insider says: Vindex is set to make waves in the gaming and esports arena space, and the wealth of experience brought by the additions to the company’s leadership team appears to match the scale of its ambitions.
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