Esports Movers and Shakers: May 2022

Each month, ESI compiles the period’s most significant esports movers and shakers. May’s round-up features personnel changes from the likes of FaZe Clan, Ninjas in Pyjamas, Astralis and 100 Thieves, among others.

Here are the key esports movers and shakers from May 2022. To read more about a story below, click the link in the corresponding title.

North American gaming and esports company FaZe Clan has appointed Zach Katz as its President and Chief Operating Officer (COO).

Katz joins the company following tenures at music publisher BMG and music technology investment group Raised In Space. According to a release, Katz will oversee FaZe Clan’s content, talent, merchandise, consumer goods, sponsorships and esports businesses.

Swedish esports organisation Ninjas in Pyjamas (NIP) has appointed Toni Kaski as its new VP of Commercial.

Kaski will oversee NIP’s Shinobi Studios, a suite of services offered to sports clubs that wish to enter esports. Kaski will also work with the rest of NIP’s executive team to continue the organisation’s growth.

Southeast Asian esports and gaming company Ampverse has announced a series of personnel appointments and promotions to help bolster its regional growth.

Tine Hansen has joined the company as its Head of Commercial Partnerships. Additionally, Jenny Hall has been promoted to Head of Strategic Partnerships after acting as Ampverse’s Director of Sales and Brand Partnerships — APAC since 2019.

Esports data platform GRID has announced that its former VP of Business Development, Mikael Westerling, has been promoted to Chief Sales Officer.

In his new role, Westerling will work with betting brands relying on GRID’s data to power their offerings in the esports vertical.

Esports betting and entertainment company Esports Entertainment Group (EEG) has announced the appointment of Kaitesi Munroe to its Board of Directors. Her appointment will bring the Board’s size to eight members.

Monroe will fulfil the role of independent director that is required by law in the United States, and bring experience in administrative roles in private and public sectors.

Esports agency AFK Pros has appointed former professional Counter-Strike player Daniel ‘Frod’ Montaner as its Esports Talent Coordinator.

In his new role, Montaner, who was previously signed to the agency as a client, will utilise his experience and connections to better serve AFK Pros’ growing roster of talent, the company said.

Atle Stehouwer, the Founder of Danish esports organisation Team Singularity, has left his role as Chief Revenue Officer.

Stehouwer has been replaced by Aleksandar Gligoric, formerly of GameAgents, who joins the organisation as its new General Manager and Chief Revenue Officer.

North American esports organisation 100 Thieves has appointed Tim Sevenhuysen, formerly of Esports One, as its Director of Esports Analytics.

In his new role, Sevenhuysen will help prepare all of 100 Thieves’ teams for competitions, with an emphasis on player development and scouting.

Russian esports organisation Virtus.pro has announced the departure of its CEO Sergey Glamazda.

According to the organisation’s official website, the role of CEO is being extinguished and Virtus.pro will now be managed by ‘a team of top managers’ from its parent company ESforce Holding.

Danish esports organisation Astralis has appointed Samantha Foltmar, formerly of Universal Music Group, as its Head of Digital.

Foltmar, together with Astralis’ digital and content teams, will build and refine the organisation’s digital strategy, as well as elevate its content across various platforms.