Keeping up with the constant flow of personnel changes in the video‑game sector can be a real challenge, which is why we gather the most noteworthy moves in periodic round‑ups. If your organization has recently made a hire or a promotion that belongs in this list, please forward the individual's name, new title, and both the new and previous companies to newhires@gamesindustry.biz. Catherine Bygrave has been named Head of Commercial at Code Wizards Group. Bygrave brings a wealth of experience to the role, having previously served as Business Development Director at Sumo Games and spending 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. "I have followed Code Wizards throughout my career and have always admired the team’s ethos and performance," Bygrave said.
"I’m thrilled to join the group and help drive the business forward in its next phase." Stuart Muckley, CEO of Code Wizards Group, welcomed the appointment: "We are delighted to have Catherine on board. The games industry has undergone rapid transformation in recent years, and Catherine’s expertise makes her the ideal partner to guide Code Wizards to the next level of growth." In other news, Michał Platkow‑Gilewski has been promoted to Vice President of Global Communications and Marketing at CD Projekt Red.
Platkow‑Gilewski first joined CD Projekt Red in 2011 as Head of Marketing. Over the ensuing years he has held a series of 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 brand’s worldwide outreach strategy positions him well to steer the company’s messaging as it expands its portfolio. Playground Games announced the appointment of Daniel Smith as Executive Producer. Smith arrives from Turn 10 Studios, where he oversaw large‑scale product development and production pipelines. Prior to that, he spent nine years at Xbox Game Studios Publishing, serving as Senior Producer and Games Producer and managing the studio’s extensive publishing slate.
His background in both development and publishing equips him to shepherd Playground’s upcoming titles from concept through launch. Gero Micciché has been named 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 roles at Electronic Arts, Codemasters, and Gameloft.
His broad experience across multiple genres and platforms will be valuable as Hangar 13 continues to build narrative‑driven experiences. Bloober Team has added Tymon Smektala as Executive Producer for its horror‑focused imprint, Broken Mirror Games. Smektala spent 13 years at Techland, most recently as Franchise Director, after joining the company in 2013 as a game designer.
He said, "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 fresh perspectives on horror in gaming." Roblox has welcomed Vik Agarwal to its product organization. Agarwal previously held senior product roles at Meta and served as Lead Product Manager at Zynga. Earlier in his career he also worked as a Product Manager for Electronic Arts and Amazon Game Studios, giving him a well‑rounded view of both social and traditional gaming ecosystems. Finally, Zynga announced the promotion of Daniel Loane to Principal Game Designer.
Loane’s prior experience includes a tenure as Senior Game Designer at Fortis Games, as well as senior design positions at ZeniMax Online Studios, NetherRealm Studios, and King. His extensive background in live‑service and mobile game design will help Zynga continue to innovate within its portfolio. These appointments and promotions reflect the dynamic nature of the gaming industry, where talent mobility and leadership evolution are essential to staying competitive.
As companies adapt to new technologies, shifting player expectations, and evolving market conditions, the movement of seasoned professionals across studios and publishers underscores the sector’s commitment to fresh ideas and strategic growth.