Tracking the flow of talent across the video‑game sector can be a daunting task, which is why we publish periodic staffing round‑ups that capture the most noteworthy hires, departures, and promotions. If your organization has a new appointment or a notable transition that you think belongs in this list, please forward the relevant details (name, new title, new company, previous role and employer) to newhires@gamesindustry.biz. Tim Coombs has been named the head of brand marketing for Amazon Luna, the streaming game service that competes directly with the likes of Google Stadia and Microsoft’s xCloud.
Coombs brings a wealth of experience from both the console and cloud‑gaming worlds. Prior to this appointment, he served as director of brand management at Microsoft’s Xbox division until July 2026, a role he assumed after joining the Xbox team in 2020 as senior manager for brand strategy. Earlier in his career, Coombs led product marketing for Amazon Lumberyard in 2017, and subsequently advanced to senior product marketing manager and team lead for Amazon Game Tech, a position he held until April 2020. His blend of brand‑focused expertise and deep technical knowledge makes him a strong fit to steer Luna’s public image and market positioning as Amazon pushes the platform into new regions and expands its game library.
Erik Mogensen has exited Hasbro and its subsidiary Wizards of the Coast after a three‑year stint as senior director of business development for digital gaming. During his tenure, Mogensen oversaw partnerships and licensing initiatives that helped launch new digital titles across the company’s flagship properties. Before joining Hasbro, he spent an impressive 23 years at Games Workshop, where his final assignment was head of business development and consumer‑product licensing. Reflecting on his career, Mogensen said, "It’s not lost on me how special it’s been to have worked on, and for, my favourite brands – from the original Warhammer tabletop experience to the modern digital incarnations of Dungeons & Dragons, Magic: The Gathering, and even the Transformers franchise.
I’m excited for the next chapter, wherever it may lead." Ryan Rubin has been added to Blizzard Entertainment’s senior production roster. Rubin arrives with a background in live‑service mobile titles, having previously served as senior producer at Netflix where he helped ship two successful games: Squid Game: Unleashed and Selling Sunset. Prior to his Netflix tenure, Rubin spent five years at Riot Games, contributing to the creative development pipeline for the League of Legends intellectual property.
His experience across both streaming‑based and traditional game development pipelines is expected to bolster Blizzard’s expanding portfolio of live‑service and cross‑platform experiences. Andrey Odintsov has taken the helm of marketing at Battlestate Games, the studio behind the popular survival shooter Hunt: Showdown.
Odintsov’s most recent role was user‑acquisition manager at Multicast Games, and he currently operates as an independent growth and go‑to‑market consultant for a variety of gaming projects. His expertise in performance marketing and community‑driven acquisition strategies should help Battlestate sustain its player base and expand into new markets. Dan Lazarides has been promoted to chief marketing officer at Frontier Developments.
Lazarides previously held the senior vice‑president of marketing position at Sega Europe, and he steps into the role after Jo Cooke moved up to become Frontier’s chief executive officer in January. "We are delighted to welcome Dan to Frontier, who brings a wealth of experience on some of the industry’s biggest IPs," Cooke remarked. "His leadership will keep our momentum going, and his focus on a player‑first strategy will ensure our publishing teams champion creativity and celebrate the way our community engages with our titles." Karen Ionescu is now the digital sales manager for Kalypso Media UK. Ionescu’s background includes a sales manager stint at Numskull Games and prior roles at both Nintendo and Rising Star Games, giving her a robust understanding of both retail and digital distribution channels.
Managing director Andrew Johnson said, "Karen’s extensive commercial know‑how and her long‑standing relationships across the retail and digital landscape make her a fantastic addition to our team." Hannah Barrett has been promoted within the esports and gaming communications agency Swipe Right to senior account executive. Barrett joined the firm as an account executive in December 2025 and has quickly demonstrated the client‑relationship skills that warranted her advancement. Supercell announced that Anni Pyy will serve as contract manager, a role she steps into after four years managing contracts at Metacore, where she oversaw a portfolio of mobile titles and negotiated partnership agreements.
Nathan Solbrandt has been named senior vice‑president of business development at the fintech platform ZBD. Solbrandt’s prior experience includes senior account executive work at Motorica and a vice‑president role overseeing business development for the Americas at Xsolla, where he helped secure publishing deals for numerous indie and mid‑tier studios.
Olivia Lee joins Riot Games as an internal events producer, building on her previous position as associate producer for internal events and programs. Her responsibilities will include coordinating community‑focused activities and internal culture‑building initiatives across Riot’s global studios.
Ciarah Pritchard has taken on the account coordinator position at Xsolla after serving as account performance manager at Playback Rewards, where she specialized in optimizing publisher‑partner relationships. Tracey Thompson returns to Bethesda as vice‑president of communications.
Thompson originally joined Bethesda in 2009 as director of publications, later becoming associate VP of communications. After a decade‑long tenure at Electronic Arts as head of product and studio‑integrated communications, she is eager to reunite with the Bethesda and Xbox teams.
"I look forward to partnering with the talented people across Bethesda and Xbox, supporting the teams behind some of the most iconic franchises in entertainment, and helping bring their creativity and vision to players around the world," Thompson said. Maddie Richter has been appointed social media marketing manager at Nintendo of America, moving from a social media manager role at Alaska Airlines where she honed her skills in audience engagement and brand storytelling.
Dana Duffield joins Yotta Games as a narrative designer after previously serving as senior narrative designer at Series Entertainment, where she crafted story arcs for several indie titles. The UK‑based publisher Yogscast Games announced a trio of new hires: Charlotte Willis, Robin Mawhinney, and Charlotte Pang. Willis will serve as PR and influencer manager, having previously worked at Diva Agency as creator and community director.
Mawhinney joins as production coordinator after a junior producer role at Atelier 11, while Pang steps in as publishing coordinator, bringing experience as a producer, animator, and artist for Team Gramps and Queensguard, as well as teaching stints at Submarine Art School and The Code Zone. Steffen Holm and Chris Kruger have become members of Roblox’s Foundation AI team, tasked with advancing the platform’s mobile‑first AI creation tool, Build, in New Zealand. The duo previously co‑founded the AI‑interactive platform Jars AI in 2023, securing $3.5 million in funding from Google and other investors. "At Jars AI we saw hundreds of thousands of creators use AI to shape weird new worlds and stories, and we’re excited to keep pushing the boundaries of AI entertainment in our new roles," Holm explained.
Sathvik Sudireddy is now marketing manager for live services at Rockstar Games. Prior to this, he worked as a product manager on Call of Duty at Activision and completed an internship in business development at the same developer, giving him a solid foundation in live‑service economics and player engagement. Joe Chard has been named lead product manager for Netflix Games. Chard’s background includes a six‑year tenure as vice president, studio general manager, and head of product at Jam City, as well as senior product leadership roles at The Walt Disney Company and Warner Bros.
Entertainment. These appointments, departures, and promotions illustrate the dynamic nature of the gaming industry’s talent landscape, where seasoned veterans and emerging leaders continuously shift between studios, publishers, and ancillary services, shaping the future of interactive entertainment.