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 expressed confidence that a change at the top would help the organization navigate the next chapter of its ambitious expansion plans.
Taking over the reins on an interim basis will be Turqi Alnowaiser, who currently serves as a deputy governor of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) and heads the fund’s International Investments Division. Alnowaiser will act as the temporary CEO while the board searches for a permanent replacement. His appointment underscores the close ties between Savvy Games Group and its sole shareholder, the PIF, and signals the fund’s intent to keep strategic oversight firmly within its own senior management.
Ward’s tenure at Savvy began when the company was founded in 2021. Over the past three years he has overseen a massive infusion of capital—approximately $37.8 billion—aimed at positioning Saudi Arabia as a major player in the worldwide video‑game market. The investment strategy has focused on acquiring established studios, securing intellectual property, and building a diversified portfolio that can compete with long‑standing Western and Asian developers. Savvy Games Group itself is a wholly owned subsidiary of the PIF, created as part of the kingdom’s broader Vision 2030 agenda to diversify the economy away from oil dependency and foster a vibrant entertainment sector.
Ward has frequently described the venture as a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia’s “economic diversification and social transformation” efforts, highlighting how the gaming industry can generate high‑skill jobs, stimulate creative talent, and attract international attention. During Ward’s leadership, Savvy executed several high‑profile acquisitions. In early 2023 the firm purchased Moonton, the developer behind the popular mobile title *Mobile Legends*, from Chinese tech giant Bytedance for a reported $6 million—a deal that gave Savvy a foothold in the fast‑growing Southeast Asian market.
Later that year, Savvy announced a landmark purchase of Scopely, a U.S. mobile‑gaming powerhouse, for roughly $4.9 billion. The Scopely transaction was one of the largest ever in the mobile gaming space and dramatically expanded Savvy’s catalog of titles, user base, and revenue streams. Before joining Savvy, Ward built a distinguished career at several of the industry’s most influential companies.
He held senior positions at Electronic Arts, where he helped steer global publishing strategies; at Xbox, where he contributed to console and service development; and at Activision, where he oversaw key franchise initiatives. This background gave him a deep understanding of both the creative and commercial dimensions of gaming, which proved valuable as he guided Savvy’s rapid expansion. Ward’s exit comes only a month after the PIF‑led consortium completed the acquisition of Electronic Arts for $55 billion, a deal that created the world’s largest sovereign‑fund‑backed gaming conglomerate. According to sources cited by Bloomberg, the EA purchase sparked internal concerns within Savvy about how two massive, Saudi‑owned gaming entities would be coordinated, governed, and integrated.
Employees reportedly worried about potential overlaps in strategy, resource allocation, and corporate culture, prompting discussions at the board level about the optimal leadership structure for the combined assets. Industry analysts view Ward’s departure as a natural inflection point.
While his leadership was instrumental in assembling a formidable portfolio, the next phase will likely demand a different skill set—one focused on consolidating the newly acquired businesses, harmonizing operational processes, and delivering sustained profitability across a diversified set of studios. Alnowaiser’s experience in international investments positions him to oversee this integration while maintaining alignment with the PIF’s broader economic objectives.
Looking ahead, Savvy Games Group is expected to continue leveraging its substantial capital base to pursue further acquisitions, invest in emerging technologies such as cloud gaming and virtual reality, and nurture homegrown talent through regional development hubs. The company’s strategic roadmap emphasizes not only financial returns but also the creation of a vibrant ecosystem that can support Saudi Arabia’s cultural and creative ambitions on the global stage.
In summary, Brian Ward’s resignation marks the end of an era characterized by aggressive growth and high‑value deals that have rapidly elevated Savvy Games Group to a prominent position in the international gaming arena. With Turqi Alnowaiser stepping in as interim CEO, the organization is poised to enter a consolidation phase, focusing on integrating its diverse assets and aligning them with the long‑term vision set forth by the Public Investment Fund.