Jobs Roundup: October – Code Wizards Group Names Catherine Bygrave as Commercial Lead

Keeping up with the constant flow of hires, promotions, and departures in the video‑game sector can be a daunting task. That’s why we put together periodic round‑ups that capture the most noteworthy personnel moves across the industry.

If you know of any recent appointments or transitions that belong in this list, please forward the individual's name, new title, new company, as well as their previous position 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 served as Business Development Director at Sumo Games. Prior to that, she spent 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 organization 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 undergone significant transformation in recent years, and Catherine’s expertise makes her the ideal partner to guide Code Wizards toward the next level of growth and innovation." 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 succession of senior roles, 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 company’s brand and its global audience positions him well to steer CD Projekt Red’s communications strategy during a period of expanding franchise activity. Playground Games has appointed Daniel Smith as Executive Producer.

Smith arrives from Turn 10 Studios, where he served as Executive Producer and oversaw large‑scale product development and production pipelines. He also spent nine years at Xbox Game Studios Publishing, holding senior producer and games producer positions and managing the Xbox publishing portfolio. His extensive background in overseeing complex development cycles is expected to bolster Playground Games’ upcoming projects.

At 2K and its Hangar 13 studio, Gero Micciché has taken on the role of Lead Producer. Micciché’s career includes a stint as Development Director on the Battlefield series at Criterion Games, as well as development director and producer roles at Electronic Arts, Codemasters, and Gameloft. His broad experience across multiple genres and platforms should help Hangar 13 deliver compelling new titles.

Bloober Team announced that Tymon Smektala will serve as Executive Producer for its curated horror 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.

"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. His deep understanding of narrative‑driven horror games is expected to enrich Broken Mirror’s upcoming releases.

Roblox has added Vik Agarwal to its product team. Agarwal previously held a product leadership role 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 view of both social and traditional gaming ecosystems.

At Roblox, he will focus on expanding the platform’s creator tools and user experience. Zynga welcomes Daniel Loane as Principal Game Designer. Loane’s background includes a senior game designer role at Fortis Games and senior design positions at ZeniMax Online Studios, NetherRealm Studios, and King.

His expertise spans mobile, live‑service, and console titles, and he will be instrumental in shaping Zynga’s next generation of games. These appointments reflect a broader trend of seasoned industry veterans moving into leadership positions where they can leverage their extensive experience to guide studios through an era of rapid technological change, evolving player expectations, and increasingly global markets. As companies continue to expand their portfolios and explore new business models—ranging from live‑service ecosystems to immersive virtual worlds—the strategic insight provided by leaders like Bygrave, Platkow‑Gilewski, Smith, Micciché, Smektala, Agarwal, and Loane will be crucial.

The influx of talent also underscores the importance of cross‑disciplinary experience. Many of the individuals highlighted here have worked across multiple companies, genres, and platforms, accumulating a diverse set of skills that are now being applied to new challenges.

For instance, Bygrave’s background in both AAA shooter franchises and indie‑focused digital publishing equips her to navigate the commercial complexities of a studio like Code Wizards, which balances high‑budget productions with innovative smaller‑scale projects. Similarly, Platkow‑Gilewski’s long tenure at CD Projekt Red, a studio renowned for narrative‑driven RPGs, positions him to maintain the brand’s strong community engagement while expanding its reach into new markets. The strategic moves by Playground Games, 2K/Hangar 13, and Bloober Team illustrate how studios are seeking leaders who can not only manage production pipelines but also foster creative vision and external partnerships.

Overall, these personnel changes signal a dynamic period for the gaming industry, where seasoned professionals are called upon to drive growth, nurture talent, and shape the future of interactive entertainment. The continued circulation of experienced leaders across companies ensures that best practices, innovative ideas, and fresh perspectives will keep flowing throughout the sector, ultimately benefiting developers and players alike.