December 2022 Jobs Recap: Apple Veteran Joins Roblox

Tracking the constant flow of new appointments and departures in the gaming industry can be challenging, which is why we put together regular roundups of notable moves. To submit new appointments or company transitions for inclusion, please email the appointee's name, new role, company, and previous role and company to newhires@gamesindustry.biz. John Stauffer, a 23-year Apple veteran, has joined Roblox as vice president of engineering for the engine group, where he will report directly to CTO Daniel Sturman. Stauffer previously served as vice president of Apple's Interactive Media Group for 14 years. According to Sturman, 'After an extensive search, we identified John as the exceptional engineering leader we needed for the Engine Group, aligning with our core value of taking the long view.' Liz Albl, a seasoned video game writer, has taken on the role of narrative lead for the next Bioshock title at Cloud Chamber. Her gaming industry experience includes working at Ubisoft, Sucker Punch Productions, and Monolith Productions, with writing credits for games like Far Cry 5, Watch Dogs: Legion, and Ghost of Tsushima. Albl expressed her excitement about joining Cloud Chamber, stating, 'The dream is real!' Game developer Splash Damage has made two key hires: Jesse Holcroft as lead level designer and Christian Murphy as senior game content tools engineer. Holcroft's experience includes working at Rockstar Games and Build a Rocket Boy, while Murphy previously served as senior tool programmer at Travellers Tales. Xsolla has promoted Berkley Egenes to chief marketing officer, leveraging his over 20 years of marketing and product integration experience. Chris Hewish, President of Xsolla, noted that Egenes 'will bring a wealth of experience to the CMO role' and is a 'trusted and respected leader.' Remote Control Production has announced two new hires: Elle Chen as head of business development and Michal Gembicki as studio partner. Chen's background includes roles at Simplaex and Lumi, while Gembicki previously served in senior marketing positions, including CMO and chief business development officer at Klabater. My.Games has expanded its leadership team with the appointments of Disney veteran Elena Grigoryan as chief strategy officer and Benjamin Villhauer, formerly of Blizzard Entertainment, as chief product officer. Grigoryan spent seven years at Disney, where she last served as director of interactive media, while Villhauer brings experience from publishers like Sega and Gameforge. Dlala Studios, the developer of Disney Illusion Island, has hired Charlotte Nangle as marketing and brand manager. Nangle's career includes roles at Curve Digital and Gamer Network, where she worked in business development and partnerships. Jens Andersson has joined MachineGames as design director, working on the studio's upcoming Indiana Jones title. With a decade of experience at firms like Starbreeze and LucasArts, Andersson expressed his excitement about the project, stating, 'I'm so excited about what we are building.' Kojima Productions, the developer of Death Stranding, has appointed Gina Ramirez as head of talent, overseeing performance talent partnerships and relationships. Ramirez brings experience from Activision and APA Agency, with Kojima Productions US head Riley Russell noting that her background 'fills in gaps and greatly complements my experience in the games business.'