Brian Ward has announced his resignation from the role of chief executive officer at Savvy Games Group, a development confirmed by an internal memorandum that Bloomberg obtained. 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 expressed confidence that new stewardship would help Savvy continue its ambitious trajectory. Effective immediately, Turqi Alnowaiser, who serves as a deputy governor of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) and heads its International Investments Division, will step in as interim acting CEO. Alnowaiser’s appointment signals a continued close alignment between Savvy Games Group and its sole shareholder, the PIF, while also providing the organization with a seasoned executive familiar with the fund’s strategic objectives and global investment portfolio.
Ward’s tenure at Savvy Games Group began when the company was founded in 2021. Over the past few years, he has overseen a massive capital infusion of roughly $37.8 billion, a sum earmarked to expand Saudi Arabia’s footprint in the worldwide video‑game sector. The investment was part of a broader national vision to diversify the Kingdom’s economy beyond oil and to foster a vibrant, technology‑driven entertainment ecosystem. In his own words, the PIF’s ownership of Savvy Games Group represents a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia’s “economic diversification and social transformation” agenda.
Under Ward’s leadership, Savvy has pursued an aggressive acquisition strategy, securing several high‑profile studios to build a robust pipeline of gaming content and talent. Notably, the group purchased Moonton, the developer behind the popular mobile title "Mobile Legends," from Bytedance for an estimated $6 million earlier this year.
In 2023, Savvy completed a landmark deal to acquire Scopely, a leading mobile game publisher, for approximately $4.9 billion. These transactions not only expanded Savvy’s portfolio but also positioned the company as a key player capable of competing with established Western and Asian gaming conglomerates. Before his stint at Savvy, Ward accumulated extensive experience in the interactive entertainment industry, holding senior positions at Electronic Arts, Microsoft’s Xbox division, and Activision.
His background gave him a deep understanding of both game development and the commercial dynamics of publishing, which proved invaluable as he guided Savvy through rapid growth and complex cross‑border deals. Ward’s departure comes just weeks after the PIF‑led consortium finalized a $55 billion acquisition of Electronic Arts, a move that reshaped the global gaming landscape. Bloomberg reports that the EA transaction raised internal concerns within Savvy about how two massive Saudi‑backed gaming entities would be managed side by side. Sources who requested anonymity indicated that questions emerged regarding governance, strategic alignment, and potential overlaps in market focus.
While the exact nature of these concerns remains undisclosed, they appear to have contributed to Ward’s decision to step aside. Looking ahead, the interim leadership of Turqi Alnowaiser will likely focus on stabilizing operations, addressing any lingering integration issues, and ensuring that Savvy’s strategic roadmap remains on track.
Alnowaiser’s expertise in international investments may also bring a fresh perspective on how to leverage the PIF’s extensive network to attract additional partnerships, talent, and technology to the Kingdom’s burgeoning gaming ecosystem. The broader context of Savvy’s evolution reflects Saudi Arabia’s ambitious Vision 2030 plan, which seeks to diversify the nation’s revenue streams, foster a knowledge‑based economy, and position the Kingdom as a hub for digital innovation. By investing heavily in gaming, a sector projected to generate over $300 billion in global revenue by the end of the decade, the PIF aims to capture a share of the market’s growth while also cultivating domestic creative talent and infrastructure.
In summary, Brian Ward’s resignation marks the end of a formative chapter for Savvy Games Group, during which the company secured billions in funding, executed multi‑billion‑dollar acquisitions, and laid the groundwork for Saudi Arabia’s long‑term presence in the global gaming arena. With Turqi Alnowaiser now at the helm on an interim basis, the organization is poised to continue its expansion, navigate the complexities introduced by the recent EA acquisition, and further align its operations with the strategic imperatives of the Public Investment Fund and the Kingdom’s diversification goals.