North American esports organisation Cloud9 has appointed Michael Choi as its Chief Product Officer.
In his new role, Choi will be responsible for the organisation’s product vision and strategy.
Choi joins Cloud9 following a three-year spell at FlyQuest which saw him become CEO of the organisation between June and December 2022. By joining Cloud9, Choi reunites with Tricia Sugita who joined the organisation in June 2022 as its Chief Marketing Officer after departing her role as FlyQuest CEO.
Following the announcement of Choi’s departure, FlyQuest announced Brian Anderson, formerly of Beastcoast, as its new CEO in December.
Alongside its recent hires, Cloud9 has expanded into the cryptocurrency and blockchain sectors. It secured a deal with crypto casino BC.GAME alongside partnerships with blockchain titles Guild of Guardians and Axie Infinity: Origins.
Like most blockchain games, Axie Infinity utilises a play-to-earn (P2E) model where users can earn money by playing games. The organisation’s Axie Infinity partnership is tied to Cloud9’s Stratus membership programme.
In addition to its expansion, Cloud9 recently cut ties with its all-female VALORANT roster. It fields rosters across numerous titles including CS:GO, League of Legends and Overwatch, as the owners of the London Spitfire franchise.
Jack Etienne, CEO and co-founder of Cloud9, spoke on the hire: “Michael is a highly experienced leader with a deep understanding of esports and the product development landscape.
“We are thrilled to welcome him to the Cloud9 team and look forward to the contributions and innovative solutions that he will bring to our products and fans.”
