Keeping up with the constant flow of hires, promotions, and departures in the video‑game sector can be a daunting task. To make it easier for industry observers, we regularly gather these personnel changes into concise round‑up articles. If you know of any recent appointments or role changes that belong in this list, please forward the individual's name, new title, new employer, as well as their previous position and company to newhires@gamesindustry.biz. Catherine Bygrave has been named the new Head of Commercial for Code Wizards Group.
Bygrave brings a wealth of experience to the role. She previously acted as Business Development Director at Sumo Games, where she oversaw partnership negotiations and expansion strategies. Prior to that, she spent ten years at Activision, contributing to flagship franchises such as Call of Duty and Destiny in various capacities. Her résumé also includes senior commercial and strategic positions at Gfinity, Humble Games, and Sumo Digital, giving her a broad perspective on both publishing and development operations.
"I have followed Code Wizards throughout my career and have always admired the team's ethos and performance," Bygrave said in a statement. "I am thrilled to join the organisation and help drive the business forward in its next phase of growth." Stuart Muckley, CEO of Code Wizards Group, echoed the enthusiasm: "We are delighted to welcome Catherine to our leadership team. The games industry has undergone rapid transformation over the past few years, and Catherine's expertise makes her the ideal partner to guide Code Wizards to the next level of success." In other news, Michał Platkow‑Gilewski has been promoted to Vice President of Global Communications and Marketing at CD Projekt Red.
Platkow‑Gilewski originally joined CD Projekt Red in 2011 as Head of Marketing. Over the ensuing years he progressed through a series of senior roles, including Head of Global Communications, Director of Public Relations and Global Communication, and finally Vice President of PR and Communication. His deep familiarity with the brand and its flagship titles positions him well to shape the company's worldwide messaging strategy. At Playground Games, Daniel Smith has taken on the role of Executive Producer.
Smith arrives with a solid background in large‑scale production, having previously served as Executive Producer at Turn 10 Studios where he managed complex development pipelines and coordinated cross‑functional teams. He also spent nine years at Xbox Game Studios Publishing, first as Senior Producer and later as Games Producer, overseeing the Xbox publishing portfolio and ensuring titles met quality and schedule expectations. Gero Micciché has been appointed Lead Producer for 2K and its Hangar 13 studio.
Micciché’s career includes a stint as Development Director on the Battlefield franchise at Criterion Games, as well as development and production leadership positions at Electronic Arts, Codemasters, and Gameloft. His experience spans both AAA and mid‑tier projects, giving him a versatile skill set for steering Hangar 13’s upcoming releases. Bloober Team announced that Tymon Smektala will serve as Executive Producer for its curated horror label, Broken Mirror Games.
Smektala spent 13 years at Techland, most recently as Franchise Director, after joining the company in 2013 as a game designer. In his new capacity, he will shape the creative direction of the imprint, curate its portfolio, and collaborate with external studios to inject fresh perspectives into the horror genre. "After more than 13 years at Techland, I’m taking on a new challenge: leading the imprint, shaping its creative direction and portfolio, and working with talented external studios to bring new perspectives on horror in gaming," Smektala explained.
Vik Agarwal has joined Roblox’s product team. Agarwal’s background includes product leadership at Meta and a tenure as Lead Product Manager at Zynga. He has also held product management roles at Electronic Arts and Amazon Game Studios, giving him a broad view of social, mobile, and live‑service game ecosystems.
Finally, Daniel Loane has been named Principal Game Designer at Zynga. Loane previously worked as Senior Game Designer at Fortis Games and has held senior design positions at ZeniMax Online Studios, NetherRealm Studios, and King. His expertise in live‑ops, user‑experience design, and monetization strategies will be valuable as Zynga continues to expand its portfolio of mobile and social games.
These appointments reflect the ongoing dynamism of the gaming industry, where talent moves fluidly between development studios, publishers, and platform providers. Each new hire or promotion brings fresh ideas and leadership styles that can influence everything from game design and production pipelines to marketing, community engagement, and commercial strategy. As companies like Code Wizards Group, CD Projekt Red, and Roblox continue to evolve, the individuals highlighted here will play pivotal roles in shaping the next generation of interactive entertainment.