Keeping up with the constant flow of hires, promotions, and departures across the video‑game sector can be a daunting task. That’s why we gather the most notable personnel moves in periodic round‑ups, giving readers a single source for the latest industry shifts. If your organization has experienced a significant staffing change—whether it’s a new hire, a promotion, or a departure—and you think it belongs in this list, please forward the relevant details (name, new title, company, and previous role and employer) to newhires@gamesindustry.biz. Catherine Bygrave has been named head of commercial for Code Wizards Group.
Bygrave arrives with a robust résumé that spans several high‑profile studios. She most recently held the position of business development director at Sumo Games, where she was responsible for forging strategic partnerships and expanding the company’s market reach.
Prior to that, she spent ten years at Activision, contributing to flagship franchises such as Call of Duty and Destiny in various capacities. Her career also includes senior commercial and strategic roles at Gfinity, Humble Games, and Sumo Digital, giving her a well‑rounded perspective on both publishing and development.
"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 group and help drive the business forward in its next phase." Stuart Muckley, CEO of Code Wizards Group, echoed her enthusiasm: "We are delighted to welcome Catherine to our leadership team. The games industry has undergone rapid transformation in recent years, and Catherine’s experience makes her the ideal partner to guide Code Wizards toward its 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 the Polish studio in 2011 as head of marketing, and over the past decade he has worn many hats, including head of global communications, director of public relations and global communication, and most recently VP of PR and communication. His deep familiarity with the brand and its fan community 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’s background includes a tenure as executive producer at Turn 10 Studios, where he oversaw large‑scale product development and managed production pipelines for the acclaimed Forza franchise.
He also spent nine years at Xbox Game Studios Publishing, serving as senior producer and games producer and handling a broad portfolio of Xbox titles. 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 series at Criterion Games, as well as development director and producer positions at Electronic Arts, Codemasters, and Gameloft.
His experience across first‑person shooters and open‑world titles equips him to steer Hangar 13’s ambitious projects. Bloober Team announced the hiring of 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." Vik Agarwal has joined Roblox’s product team. Agarwal brings a wealth of experience from previous product leadership roles at Meta and Zynga, as well as product manager positions at Electronic Arts and Amazon Game Studios.
His expertise in scaling consumer‑facing products is expected to enhance Roblox’s ever‑growing ecosystem. Finally, Daniel Loane has been named principal game designer at Zynga. Loane’s prior experience includes senior game designer work at Fortis Games, along with senior design roles at ZeniMax Online Studios, NetherRealm Studios, and King. His background in live‑service and mobile gaming will be valuable as Zynga continues to expand its portfolio of social titles.
These appointments reflect the dynamic nature of the gaming industry, where talent mobility and cross‑studio experience are key drivers of innovation. As companies continue to adapt to evolving player expectations, emerging technologies, and shifting market conditions, the movement of seasoned professionals like those highlighted above will shape the next wave of game development and publishing.
For any future updates or to submit your own company’s personnel changes, remember to email newhires@gamesindustry.biz with the relevant details.