League of Legends and VALORANT publisher Riot Games has announced the hiring of Jason Bunge, formerly of Electronic Arts, as its new Chief Marketing Officer.
Bunge will oversee the studio’s product publishing, game marketing, and global channel strategy in an effort to ‘help level up’ Riot Games’ IP, according to a release.
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Jin Oh, President of Worldwide Publishing, commented in a release: “Jason’s proven track record of deploying and sustaining games and his deep understanding of players are exactly the combination we were looking for in a CMO. We knew we needed to find someone who connects with players and has demonstrated success in executing innovative and creative campaigns. On behalf of everyone at Riot, we’re excited to have Jason join the team as we continue to engage players across all our titles in deeply resonant ways.”
Bunge spent five years with Electronic Arts, most recently as its Senior Vice President of Global Brand Management and Marketing. According to Riot’s announcement, Bunge worked on the rollout of games such as Apex Legends, which has its own dedicated esports scene, although his new position isn’t specifically focused on esports.
In addition to its long-running title League of Legends, and the recently-released VALORANT and Legends of Runeterra, Riot Games is on the verge of launching League of Legends: Wild Rift for mobile platforms and consoles. The firm is also developing additional upcoming titles, including a fighting game and a role-playing adventure.
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“I’m thrilled to join Riot, a company with an unwavering commitment to players,” Bunge added. “Through our growing portfolio of games and immersive storytelling, I’m looking forward to working with all of the passionate and creative Rioters around the world. Together, we’ll deliver truly holistic brand experiences that constantly strive to raise player expectations.”
Esports Insider says: While Bunge’s focus will seemingly be more focused on the publisher’s games sector, esports is still at the core of what the studio does. Given how VALORANT’s own competitive scene is ramping up, it’s likely that future Riot titles will similarly seek to find the same kind of rampant success of League of Legends esports.