Keeping up with the constant flow of personnel changes across the video‑game sector can be a daunting task. To help industry observers stay informed, we publish periodic round‑ups that capture the most notable hires, promotions, and departures. If you know of any recent staffing moves that merit inclusion—whether it’s a new appointment, a shift in responsibilities, or an executive transition—please forward the relevant details (name, new title, company, plus prior role and employer) to newhires@gamesindustry.biz. One of the headline announcements this month comes from Code Wizards Group, which has brought Catherine Bygrave on board as its new Head of Commercial.
Bygrave arrives with a robust background in business development and commercial strategy. She previously held the position of Business Development Director at Sumo Games, where she was responsible for forging partnership deals and expanding the studio’s market reach.
Before that, she spent a decade at Activision, contributing to flagship franchises such as Call of Duty and Destiny in various capacities that spanned product strategy to revenue optimisation. Her résumé also includes senior commercial and strategic roles at Gfinity, Humble Games, and Sumo Digital, giving her a well‑rounded perspective on both indie and AAA publishing landscapes.
"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 to help drive the business forward as it enters its next phase of growth." Stuart Muckley, CEO of Code Wizards Group, echoed her enthusiasm: "Catherine’s arrival is a major boost for our leadership team.
The games industry has undergone rapid transformation in recent years, and her experience makes her the ideal partner to guide Code Wizards toward the next level of success." In other news, CD Projekt Red has promoted Michał Platkow‑Gilewski to Vice President of Global Communications and Marketing. Platkow‑Gilewski’s tenure at CD Projekt Red began in 2011 when he took on the role of Head of Marketing.
Over the ensuing years he progressed through a series of increasingly senior positions, including Head of Global Communications, Director of Public Relations and Global Communication, and ultimately Vice President of PR and Communication. His deep familiarity with the brand and its worldwide fanbase positions him well to steer the company’s messaging and marketing strategy in the years ahead.
Playground Games has announced the appointment of Daniel Smith as Executive Producer. Smith brings a wealth of production experience, most recently serving as Executive Producer at Turn 10 Studios where he oversaw large‑scale product development and the day‑to‑day operations of the studio’s flagship racing titles.
Prior to that, he spent nine years at Xbox Game Studios Publishing, holding senior producer and games producer roles and managing the studio’s extensive publishing portfolio across multiple platforms. At 2K and its subsidiary Hangar 13 Games, Gero Micciché has been named Lead Producer. Micciché’s career includes a stint as Development Director on the Battlefield franchise at Criterion Games, as well as development director and producer positions at major publishers such as Electronic Arts, Codemasters, and Gameloft. His broad experience across first‑person shooters, open‑world adventures, and mobile titles equips him to guide Hangar 13’s ambitious projects.
Bloober Team’s horror‑focused imprint, Broken Mirror Games, has tapped Tymon Smektala as Executive Producer. 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 role he will steer the creative direction of Broken Mirror’s portfolio, collaborating 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 bolstered its product team with the addition of Vik Agarwal. Agarwal previously held senior product leadership positions at Meta and served as Lead Product Manager at Zynga.
Earlier in his career he worked as a product manager for both Electronic Arts and Amazon Game Studios, giving him a comprehensive view of product development pipelines across social, mobile, and console environments. Finally, Zynga welcomes Daniel Loane as Principal Game Designer. Loane’s background includes a senior game designer role at Fortis Games, as well as senior design positions at ZeniMax Online Studios, NetherRealm Studios, and King.
His expertise spans live‑service titles, competitive multiplayer experiences, and casual mobile games, positioning him to influence Zynga’s upcoming portfolio of social and mobile offerings. These appointments reflect the dynamic nature of talent movement within the gaming industry, where seasoned professionals continually shift between studios, bringing fresh ideas and seasoned expertise to new projects.
As studios expand, merge, or pivot toward emerging technologies such as cloud gaming, virtual reality, and AI‑driven content creation, the demand for leaders who can navigate both creative and commercial challenges remains high. Keeping track of these changes helps stakeholders—investors, partners, and fans—understand the strategic directions companies are taking and the human capital driving those strategies forward.