February 2023 Jobs Roundup: Notable Hires in the Gaming Industry

The gaming industry has seen a flurry of new appointments and transitions. To keep track of these developments, we have compiled the latest updates. If your company has recent hires or promotions to share, please send the details to newhires@gamesindustry.biz. JumpButton Studio has named Jay-Ann Lopez as its Chief Operating Officer. Lopez, who founded the Black Girl Gamers foundation in 2015, brings her experience in providing mentorship and promoting diversity in the gaming industry. "I'm excited to join JBS and contribute to a studio prioritizing DEI and driving change in the industry," Lopez said. The International Game Developers Association Foundation has added Lisy Kane, James Lewis, and Sarah Spiers to its board of directors. Kane, co-founder of GirlGeekAcademy, has a background in increasing women's representation in tech. Lewis, a board member at Black Voices In Gaming, currently leads ID@Xbox's creative partner program. Spiers, development director at EA's Maxis Studios, previously served as the IGDAF's interim executive director. Gearbox has appointed John Eternal as its Director of Business Development. Eternal, formerly PlayStation's global partner development lead, has over 20 years of experience in the gaming industry, including a seven-year stint at Sega of America. Sumo Group has announced several new hires, including Heather Williams, Jacob Harvey, Hayden Smith, and Chris Groves. Williams will serve as Senior Environment Artist at Lab42 Games, while Harvey and Smith join Sumo Nottingham as Junior Level Designer and Technical Animator, respectively. Groves will be Senior Community Manager at Sumo Leamington. Scopely has appointed Eric Wood as Senior Vice President of Publishing. Wood, with over 20 years of experience, previously worked at EA, Zynga, and Nike, and most recently served as Senior Vice President of Global Strategic Partnerships at Activision Blizzard. Forits has hired Scott Lee as Senior Vice President, People, to focus on building a diverse and inclusive team. Lee has worked at Asana and Uber, leading talent acquisition and engineering sourcing. "I'm excited to redefine what belonging means in the gaming industry," Lee said. Fortis Games has appointed Jing Wang as Head of Strategic Programs. Wang, formerly a general manager at Phoenix Labs, has a six-year background at Riot Games. Amber Studio has hired Andrea Enache as Chief Revenue Officer and Vlad Popovici as Chief Marketing Officer. Enache, with 22 years of experience in the gaming industry, has worked at Marvel, Sony, and Konami. Popovici, with 14 years of experience in marketing, joins from agency Kubis.