Brian Ward has announced his departure from the role of chief executive officer at Savvy Games Group, as confirmed by an internal memorandum obtained by Bloomberg. In his farewell note, Ward explained that the company is entering a new phase of "transformational growth" and that fresh leadership is essential to guide this evolution.
He wrote, "As Savvy embarks on its next period of transformational growth, this is the right time for new leadership for that evolution." The interim position will be filled by Turqi Alnowaiser, who currently serves as the deputy governor of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) and heads its International Investments Division. Alnowaiser will act as the temporary chief executive while the organization searches for a permanent successor. Ward has been at the helm of Savvy Games Group since its inception in 2021. During his tenure, he oversaw a massive capital injection of $37.8 billion, a strategic move designed to boost Saudi Arabia’s footprint in the worldwide video‑game sector.
The firm itself was created as a wholly‑owned subsidiary of the PIF, a fact Ward frequently highlighted when describing the venture as a cornerstone of the Kingdom’s broader agenda of economic diversification and social transformation. Under Ward’s guidance, Savvy embarked on an aggressive acquisition strategy. Notably, the company purchased Moonton, the developer behind the popular mobile title "Mobile Legends," from ByteDance for roughly $6 million earlier this year. In 2023, Savvy closed a landmark deal to acquire Scopely, a leading mobile game publisher, for an estimated $4.9 billion.
These transactions were part of a larger vision to assemble a portfolio of high‑growth studios that could compete on a global stage and generate sustainable revenue streams for the Saudi sovereign wealth fund. Before his appointment at Savvy, Ward built a distinguished career in the interactive entertainment industry.
He held senior positions at Electronic Arts, where he contributed to the launch of several flagship franchises, and later served in leadership roles at Microsoft’s Xbox division and Activision. His deep experience in both publishing and platform development equipped him with the expertise needed to steer a nascent, state‑backed gaming conglomerate. Ward’s resignation comes on the heels of a monumental corporate event: the acquisition of Electronic Arts by a consortium led by the PIF for $55 billion.
The deal, announced only a month earlier, has sparked internal discussions within Savvy about how two massive Saudi‑owned gaming entities will be coordinated and managed. Sources familiar with the situation, who requested anonymity, told Bloomberg that the EA purchase raised concerns about potential overlaps in strategy, resource allocation, and governance across the two organizations. Industry analysts suggest that the leadership change may reflect a need to recalibrate Savvy’s operational model in light of the new competitive landscape. With the PIF now controlling both Savvy and EA, there could be opportunities for synergy—such as shared technology platforms, joint publishing initiatives, or coordinated investment in emerging markets—but also challenges related to maintaining distinct brand identities and avoiding internal cannibalization.
The appointment of Turqi Alnowaiser as interim CEO signals the PIF’s desire to keep the transition smooth and maintain strategic continuity. Alnowaiser’s background in international investments positions him well to oversee cross‑border deals, manage relationships with existing studio partners, and explore new growth avenues, such as expanding into cloud gaming, esports, and virtual reality experiences. Looking ahead, Savvy Games Group is expected to continue its aggressive expansion plan.
The firm has already signaled interest in acquiring additional development studios, particularly those with strong mobile and live‑service capabilities, which align with the global shift toward games as a service (GaaS). Moreover, the PIF’s broader vision for the Kingdom’s entertainment sector includes fostering local talent, building a domestic game development ecosystem, and leveraging the country’s young, digitally‑savvy population as both creators and consumers. In summary, Brian Ward’s departure marks the end of an era for Savvy Games Group, a company that has rapidly become a major player in the international gaming arena thanks to unprecedented sovereign funding and a clear mandate to diversify Saudi Arabia’s economy. As Turqi Alnowaiser steps into the interim role, the organization faces the dual challenge of integrating the newly acquired EA assets while continuing to pursue its own growth trajectory.
Stakeholders will be watching closely to see how the leadership transition influences Savvy’s strategic decisions, acquisition pipeline, and overall impact on the global gaming landscape.