Brian Ward has announced his departure from the helm of Savvy Games Group, according to an internal memorandum obtained by Bloomberg. In his farewell note, Ward explained that the company is poised to enter a fresh phase of transformational growth and that a change in leadership is appropriate to guide this next evolution. The memorandum states, "As Savvy embarks on its next period of transformational growth, this is the right time for new leadership for that evolution," underscoring his belief that a new executive perspective will help the organization navigate the coming milestones.
The interim role will be filled by Turqi Alnowaiser, who currently serves as a deputy governor of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) and leads its International Investments Division. Alnowaiser will act as the temporary chief executive while a permanent successor is identified, ensuring continuity in strategy and day‑to‑day operations. Ward has been at the forefront of Savvy Games Group since its inception in 2021, when the PIF created the entity to spearhead Saudi Arabia’s ambitious push into the global video‑game sector. Over the past three years, Ward oversaw a massive capital commitment—approximately $37.8 billion—aimed at building a vertically integrated gaming ecosystem that could compete on the world stage.
Under his guidance, the fund‑backed company acquired a portfolio of development studios and publishing assets, significantly expanding its reach and capabilities. The parent organization, the Public Investment Fund, fully owns Savvy Games Group. Ward has previously framed the venture as a cornerstone of the kingdom’s broader economic diversification and social transformation agenda, positioning gaming as both a cultural export and a catalyst for new high‑skill jobs. Among the most notable deals struck during Ward’s tenure were the purchases of Moonton and Scopely.
In early 2023, Savvy secured Moonton—a developer famous for the hit mobile title "Mobile Legends"—from Chinese conglomerate ByteDance for an estimated $6 million, a transaction that signaled a strategic entry into the Southeast Asian market. Later that year, the group closed a landmark $4.9 billion acquisition of Scopely, a leading mobile game publisher, further broadening its portfolio of top‑grossing titles and deepening its expertise in live‑ops and user‑acquisition strategies. Ward’s career before joining Savvy was already distinguished.
He held senior leadership positions at Electronic Arts, where he helped shape global publishing strategies, at Microsoft’s Xbox division, where he oversaw console and services growth, and at Activision, where he contributed to the development of flagship franchises. This breadth of experience gave him a unique perspective on both the creative and commercial sides of the industry. His decision to step down arrives only a month after a monumental transaction that saw the PIF lead a consortium to purchase Electronic Arts for a staggering $55 billion. The acquisition, one of the largest ever in the gaming sector, raised internal concerns within Savvy about the future governance of two massive Saudi‑owned gaming enterprises.
Sources familiar with the matter, who asked to remain anonymous, told Bloomberg that the EA deal prompted a strategic review at Savvy, with executives questioning how the two entities would be coordinated, what synergies could be realized, and how to avoid potential conflicts of interest. Industry analysts interpret Ward’s exit as a possible signal that the PIF is recalibrating its leadership structure to better align the newly acquired EA with its existing gaming assets. By appointing Alnowaiser—who already oversees the PIF’s international portfolio—the fund may be seeking a tighter integration of its gaming investments, ensuring that both Savvy and EA operate under a cohesive strategic vision. Looking ahead, the interim leadership period will be critical for Savvy Games Group.
The company must maintain momentum on its existing projects, continue nurturing relationships with its newly acquired studios, and begin laying the groundwork for deeper collaboration with EA. At the same time, the board will be tasked with identifying a permanent CEO who can balance the dual objectives of aggressive growth and responsible stewardship of the substantial public funds involved. Stakeholders—including investors, developers, and gamers—are watching closely to see how the transition will affect product pipelines, regional expansion plans, and the broader narrative of Saudi Arabia’s push to become a major player in the global entertainment economy. If executed successfully, the leadership change could reinforce the PIF’s ambition to position the kingdom not only as a financial hub but also as a cultural powerhouse in the interactive media space.
In summary, Brian Ward’s resignation marks the end of a formative era for Savvy Games Group, a company built from the ground up to accelerate Saudi Arabia’s gaming ambitions. Turqi Alnowaiser’s appointment as interim acting CEO provides a bridge between the current operational cadence and the forthcoming strategic direction, while the broader industry awaits further clarification on how the PIF will harmonize its newly acquired assets with its existing gaming portfolio.