aXiomatic Gaming appoints Mark Vela as CEO

aXiomatic Gaming, the parent company of esports organisation Team Liquid, has appointed its Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) Mark Vela as the firm’s new CEO, effective April 30th.

Bruce Stein, aXiomatic Gaming’s Co-Founder and current CEO, will continue with the company as an investor. 

Photo credit: aXiomatic Gaming

RELATED: aXiomatic names Mark Vela as Chief Strategy Officer

According to the release, Vela has played a key role in several of aXiomatic’s investments during his tenure as Vice President of Strategy and CSO. These include investments in Pokémon Go developer Niantic and blockchain technology company Dapper Labs.

Vela’s impending appointment as CEO comes soon after he was named CSO in December 2020. Under his new role, Vela will be responsible for leading investments, lending strategic support and providing oversight across the firm’s entire portfolio, which includes Epic Games and Team Liquid, among others.

 “I am thrilled to lead the next chapter for aXiomatic and further build upon an incredible foundation that includes market disruptors like Team Liquid, Epic, Niantic, Dapper and others,” commented Vela.

 “We aim to not only continue elevating this unparalleled portfolio of companies that’s driving innovation across competitive, social and blockchain gaming communities, but also identify, partner with, and invest in the next wave of industry-defining companies and platforms, and new audiences.” 

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Prior to joining aXiomatic Gaming in 2018, Vela spent over four years at Activision as its Director of Product Management, Strategic Planning and Operations. He also had a two-year spell at Google.

 “On behalf of the board, I would like to thank Bruce for his leadership and significant contributions since helping found aXiomatic,” added aXiomatic Co-Executive Chairman Ted Leonsis, who is also Chairman, CEO and Majority Owner of Monumental Sports & Entertainment. 

“We expect great things from Mark and the rest of our dynamic team in the chapter ahead, as they continue to elevate our partners and impact the gaming industry for years to come.”

Esports Insider says: This is a significant announcement made by aXiomatic. Vela has worked his way up the organisation to become the firm’s new CEO and will look to replicate the successes of Bruce Stein, who has been a significant figure for aXiomatic since its inception. Given this shift, it’ll be interesting to see how the company operates in the near future.

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