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 professionals and enthusiasts alike, we publish periodic round‑ups that capture the most noteworthy personnel movements across the industry. If you are aware of any recent appointments, role changes, or departures that deserve a mention, please forward the relevant details – including the individual's name, new position, new company, as well as their previous role and employer – to newhires@gamesindustry.biz. Catherine Bygrave has been named Head of Commercial for Code Wizards Group.
Bygrave arrives with a wealth of experience, having previously served as Business Development Director at Sumo Games. Before that, she spent ten years at Activision, where she contributed to flagship franchises such as Call of Duty and Destiny.
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 as it enters 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 evolved rapidly over the past few years, and Catherine's expertise is exactly what we need to elevate Code Wizards to the next level." 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 has taken on a series of increasingly senior roles, including Head of Global Communications, Director of Public Relations and Global Communication, and most recently Vice President of PR and Communication. His deep familiarity with the company's brand and its global audience positions him well to steer CD Projekt Red's messaging strategy in the years ahead.
Playground Games has appointed Daniel Smith as Executive Producer. Smith brings a strong background in large‑scale product development, having previously held the same title at Turn 10 Studios where he oversaw the end‑to‑end production pipeline for flagship racing titles. Prior to that, he spent nine years at Xbox Game Studios Publishing as a Senior Producer and Games Producer, managing a diverse portfolio of Xbox releases and coordinating cross‑functional teams across multiple studios. Gero Micciché has taken on the role of Lead Producer at 2K and its subsidiary Hangar 13 Games.
Micciché’s career includes a stint as Development Director on the Battlefield series at Criterion Games, as well as development leadership positions at Electronic Arts, Codemasters, and Gameloft. His extensive experience in both AAA and mid‑tier projects equips him to guide Hangar 13’s upcoming titles through the complex stages of design, production, and launch.
Bloober Team announced the appointment of Tymon Smektala as Executive Producer for its curated horror label, Broken Mirror Games. Smektala spent 13 years at Techland, most recently serving as Franchise Director after joining the company in 2013 as a game designer.
In his new capacity, he will shape the creative direction of Broken Mirror Games, 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. Roblox has added Vik Agarwal to its product team.
Agarwal previously held senior product leadership roles at Meta and served as Lead Product Manager at Zynga. His earlier career includes product management positions at Electronic Arts and Amazon Game Studios, giving him a broad understanding of both social and mobile gaming ecosystems. Zynga has appointed Daniel Loane as Principal Game Designer. Loane’s background includes a tenure as Senior Game Designer at Fortis Games, as well as senior design roles at ZeniMax Online Studios, NetherRealm Studios, and King.
His experience spans a variety of genres and platforms, positioning him to contribute to Zynga’s next wave of social and mobile experiences. These appointments reflect the dynamic nature of the gaming industry, where talent mobility and leadership reshuffles are commonplace. As studios continue to expand, merge, or pivot toward new technologies such as cloud gaming, virtual reality, and AI‑driven content creation, the demand for seasoned professionals who can navigate both creative and commercial challenges remains high. The individuals highlighted above bring a blend of strategic vision, operational know‑how, and a track record of delivering successful products—qualities that will undoubtedly influence the direction of their respective companies in the months and years to come.
For any further updates or to suggest additional personnel changes for future round‑ups, remember to contact us at newhires@gamesindustry.biz.