Keeping up with the constant flow of personnel changes in the video‑game sector can be a real challenge, which is why we publish periodic round‑ups that capture the most noteworthy moves. If your organization has recently welcomed new talent or seen internal promotions that belong in this list, please forward the individual's name, new title, and both their current and former employers to newhires@gamesindustry.biz. Catherine Bygrave has been named the head of commercial for Code Wizards Group.
Bygrave brings a wealth of experience to the role, having previously acted 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 am thrilled to join the group and help drive the business forward into its next phase." Stuart Muckley, CEO of Code Wizards Group, added: "We are delighted to welcome Catherine to our leadership team. The games industry has evolved dramatically over the past few years, and Catherine is exactly the kind of visionary leader we need to propel 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 first joined CD Projekt Red in 2011 as head of marketing and has since held a series of senior roles, including head of global communications, director of public relations and global communication, and finally VP of PR and communication.
His deep familiarity with the brand and its global audience positions him well to steer the company's messaging strategy. Playground Games has appointed Daniel Smith as an 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 Xbox publishing portfolio across multiple titles. At 2K and its Hangar 13 studio, Gero Micciché has taken on the role of lead producer. Micciché’s background 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 broad experience across different genres and development environments is expected to strengthen Hangar 13’s upcoming projects.
Bloober Team has 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.
"After more than a decade at Techland, I’m excited to take on a new challenge: leading this imprint, shaping its creative direction and portfolio, and collaborating with talented external studios to bring fresh perspectives to horror gaming," Smektala explained. Roblox has added Vik Agarwal to its product team. Agarwal previously held product leadership roles at Meta and served as lead product manager at Zynga. His earlier career includes product manager positions at Electronic Arts and Amazon Game Studios, giving him a well‑rounded perspective on both social and traditional gaming ecosystems.
Zynga welcomes Daniel Loane as principal game designer. Loane’s background includes senior game designer work at Fortis Games, as well as senior design roles at ZeniMax Online Studios, NetherRealm Studios, and King. His extensive experience across mobile, console, and online platforms is expected to enrich Zynga’s design pipeline.
These appointments and promotions illustrate the dynamic nature of talent movement within the interactive entertainment industry. Companies continue to seek leaders who can blend creative vision with commercial acumen, ensuring that both emerging studios and established publishers remain competitive in an ever‑evolving market. By tracking these changes, industry observers can gain insight into strategic directions, potential collaborations, and the shifting landscape of game development and publishing.