Each month, ESI compiles the period’s most significant esports movers and shakers. In August 2022 multiple C-level personnel were appointed, with the individuals coming from both endemic and non-endemic organisations. This includes hires from the likes of Riot Games, Misfits, FaZe Clan and BLAST among others.
Here are the top movers and shakers for August 2022. If you are interested in a story, click the link in the corresponding title!
Spotlighted story
The Commonwealth event is the latest example of competitors and businesses from around the world travelling to the UK to participate in esports
Jack Freeland, Immigration Specialist for Shepherd and Wedderburn’s dedicated esports group, writes for Esports Insider to explain UK visas for esports athletes and staff who are coming to compete in the country.
North American esports organisation FaZe Clan has appointed Christoph Pachler, formerly of independent television studio Critical Content, as its Chief Financial Officer (CFO).
Pachler will oversee all aspects of FaZe Clan’s financial management. This includes financial planning, accounting and reporting, strategic development, M&A and investor relations. He will officially become FaZe’s CFO in October.
North American esports organisation OpTic Gaming has secured two new hires as the company looks to bolster its North American sales team.
As a result, Rachel Alexander and Tony Constantacos have joined the organisation as its new Director of Sales and Partnerships and Director of Business Development, respectively. In their new roles, both Alexander and Constantacos will work towards attracting new national and international sponsors.
European esports organisation Heroic has appointed former professional handball player and Olympic gold medallist Lasse Svan as a Performance Coach.
In his new role, Svan will work with Heroic’s CS:GO team to make sure their emotional, physical and mental needs are met. Prior to joining Heroic, Svan was competing as a professional handball player since 2002.
Saudi esports organisation Team Falcons has bolstered its leadership ranks with the hiring of Grant Rousseau as its Global Director of Esports and European Director of Operations.
As such, Rousseau will be instrumental in the company’s growth in Europe, as well as overseeing the development of its teams across all regions. Team Falcons is one of the most successful esports teams in the MENA region, fielding teams in numerous games including CS:GO, Fortnite, Rocket League, PUBG Mobile, Rainbow Six: Siege, and FIFA, among others.
Esports event organiser and production company BLAST has announced the appointment of Chrystina Martel as its new Head of Esports Product.
In her position, Martel will be tasked with increasing the overall quality of BLAST events and offerings, as well as developing new esports products for the company. BLAST said that Martel will work with both ‘internal departments and external partners’ during her time at the company.
Game developer Riot Games has appointed Artem Bykov, formerly of ESL Gaming, as its League of Legends European Championship Series (LEC) Commissioner.
Bykov will be tasked with improving the LEC competitive ecosystem whilst also representing LEC’s teams and players to help determine the league’s direction. He will work closely with Peter Schmidt, Head of Esports for League of Legends in EMEA and Filipe Borges, Riot Games’ Esports Product Manager.
UK-based esports organisation Tundra Esports has announced Dutch footballer Virgil van Dijk as an Ambassador and Shareholder.
Van Dijk will help promote the organisation in addition to providing support for its roster of esports players. The Liverpool FC defender becomes the second ambassador of Tundra, joining British grime MC P Money who has collaborated with the organisation to create a music video unveiling van Dijk.
Nicole Du Cane Spencer has joined Multi-regional esports organisation Misfits Gaming Group as its new Vice President of Partnerships.
In her new role, Spencer will be responsible for driving business, media, sponsorship and partnership revenue across Misfits’ brands and assets. This includes the organisation’s Overwatch League and Call of Duty League franchises — Florida Mayhem and Florida Mutineers, respectively.
