It can be difficult keeping track of the various comings and goings in the games industry, which is why we compile them in semi-regular round-ups.
If you have new appointments or transitions in your company that belong here, please send the names of appointees, new role and company, and prior role and company to [email protected].
David Grivel | Splinter Cell remake game director, Ubisoft Toronto
David Grivel has returned to Ubisoft Toronto as game director on the Splinter Cell remake.
Grivel initially became game director of the game in 2021, holding this position for a year before leaving to join Electronic Arts as senior designer director on Battlefield 6.
He returned to Ubisoft Toronto in May 2024 as game director on an unannounced project in its conception phase.
In December 2024 Grivel joined Worlds Untold, which was subsequently shut down as he was transitioning into the studio design director role.
Grivel originally joined Ubisoft in 2011 as a game designer on Ghost Recon Future Soldier. He moved to Ubisoft Toronto in 2012 as senior game designer on Splinter Cell: Blacklist and Assassin’s Creed Unity. He was also lead game designer on Far Cry 5, Far Cry Primal, and Far Cry 6.
Prior to returning to Ubisoft in his current role, Grivel held contract positions at Elysium Game Studio as a game design consultant and at Pixomondo as a gameplay system designer.
Jason Avent | Founder and non-executive director, Six Peaks Games
Jason Avent has joined QA services studio Six Peak Games as founded and non-executive director.
Prior to this role, Avent was CEO and founder of Hardball Games. Founded in 2022 with former friends and colleagues from Boss Alien and TT Odyssey, it raised $5.2 million in seed capital from Griffin Gaming Partners.
Avent held executive roles at FuturLab as non-executive director, TT Games as studio head, and Boss Alien as managing director.
His title at Boss Alien changed to VP, studio head following NaturalMotion’s acquisition of the developer in 2012.
Avent has also worked at Disney’s Black Rock Studio, Climax, Electronic Arts, Bullfrog Productions, and Microprose.
Vince Farquharson | Chief games officer, Good Gate Media
As part of a leadership expansion at cross-platform entertainment company Good Gate Media, industry veteran Vince Farquharson has joined the executive team as chief games officer.
Farquharson initially joined Good Gate Media as an advisor. He is currently a mentor for Creative UK and Games London, an advisor for Bandit Island Games, director at Optimal Creative, and an angel investor for The Game Angels.
He previously held executive roles at Bossa Studios, Atari, Jagex, and THQ.
Holly Watson | Senior operations manager (customer support), The Pokémon Company International
The Pokémon Company International has appointed Holly Watson as senior operations manager, customer support.
Watson was previously head of player support at Dreamhaven, as well as head of player support at Singularity 6.
She entered the industry in 2020 at Riot Games as player support specialist.
Watson held various positions in the 11 years that she worked for the developer, including outsource coordinator, NA player support game and account lead, player support central game lead, contact experience lead, and senior contact experience lead.
“So ridiculously excited to share that I’ve joined The Pokémon Company as senior operations manager, customer support,” said Watson.
“I’m incredibly grateful for all the experiences that brought me here, and I can’t wait to help shape exceptional support experiences for fellow Pokémon fans around the world.”
Two new hires at Rokky
PC distribution platform Rokky has welcomed two new hires, influencer marketing specialist Anastasia Dvoinishnikova and business development manager Zhang Shui Qi.
Dvoinishnikova worked as an influencer marketing specialist for four years at various firms, and was marketing project manager in her previous company AAA Agency.
“Anastasia joined us this past October and has already made a great start, providing her expertise on the world of influencers and helping bring new eyes to both Rokky and our gaming clients,” said Rokky.
Zhang will focus her expertise on the Chinese market as business development manager.
“The Chinese gaming market is one of the most important, and yet it is wholly separate from the shared western gaming market,” the firm said.
“It has its own rules, its own audiences and developers trying to get their games released within it, or out of it, have more hoops to jump through.
“So, we’re excited to welcome Shui Qi aboard and offer her expertise to support the Chinese games market and Rokky’s position within it.”
