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 notable moves into periodic round‑ups for our readers. If you know of any recent hires, promotions, or departures that belong in this list, please forward the individual's name, new position, and company, along with their previous role and employer, to newhires@gamesindustry.biz. Catherine Bygrave has been named 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. Before that she spent ten years at Activision, contributing 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, echoed the sentiment: "We are delighted to welcome Catherine to our leadership team.
The games industry has been evolving rapidly over the past few years, and Catherine is precisely the kind of leader we need to propel Code Wizards to the next level." In another significant development, Michał Platkow‑Gilewski has been promoted to Vice President of Global Communications and Marketing at CD Projekt Red. Platkow‑Gilewski first arrived at CD Projekt Red in 2011 as Head of Marketing. Over the ensuing years he has held a succession 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 and its worldwide audience positions him well to shape the company’s public narrative moving forward. Playground Games has appointed Daniel Smith as Executive Producer. Smith arrives from Turn 10 Studios, where he served as Executive Producer overseeing large‑scale product development and production pipelines. Prior to his tenure at Turn 10, he spent nine years at Xbox Game Studios Publishing, first as Senior Producer and later as Games Producer, where he managed the Xbox publishing portfolio and coordinated multi‑title releases across the console ecosystem.
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 major publishers such as Electronic Arts, Codemasters, and Gameloft. His broad experience across different genres and development pipelines is expected to strengthen Hangar 13’s upcoming projects.
Bloober Team announced that Tymon Smektala will serve as Executive Producer for its curated horror label, Broken Mirror Games. Smektala spent 13 years at Techland, most recently as Franchise Director after joining the company in 2013 as a game designer. "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," Smektala explained. Roblox has added Vik Agarwal to its product organization.
Agarwal previously held a product leadership role at Meta and was Lead Product Manager at Zynga. His career also includes product manager positions at Electronic Arts and Amazon Game Studios, giving him a well‑rounded perspective on both social and traditional gaming platforms. Zynga’s design team welcomes Daniel Loane as Principal Game Designer. Loane’s prior experience includes a senior game designer role at Fortis Games, as well as senior design positions at ZeniMax Online Studios, NetherRealm Studios, and King, where he contributed to the design of live‑service and mobile titles.
These appointments and promotions illustrate the dynamic nature of talent movement within the gaming industry, where seasoned veterans frequently shift between studios, bringing fresh ideas and leadership to new challenges. As companies continue to expand their portfolios and explore emerging technologies such as cloud gaming, virtual reality, and AI‑driven content creation, the demand for experienced professionals who can navigate both creative and commercial landscapes remains high. The individuals highlighted above exemplify the blend of strategic vision, production expertise, and market awareness that modern game companies seek to stay competitive in an ever‑evolving market. Overall, the October roundup showcases a mixture of upward mobility—like Platkow‑Gilewski’s elevation at CD Projekt Red—and cross‑studio transitions that enrich the industry’s collective knowledge base.
By tracking these movements, observers can gain insight into broader trends, such as the growing emphasis on commercial leadership in studios traditionally focused on pure development, and the increasing importance of product management roles that bridge the gap between player experience and business objectives. As the sector moves forward, keeping an eye on these key personnel changes will help stakeholders anticipate where creative and commercial priorities are headed.