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].
Andrew Watson | CEO, Hutch
Mobile developer Hutch has appointed Andrew Watson as CEO.
The former chief operating officer joined Hutch in 2013 as production manager before becoming head of production in 2014.
He was promoted to COO in 2017, and has since scaled the developer from 12 employees to more than 140 people across three studios.
Watson has almost two decades of experience in the industry. Prior to joining Hutch, he was a producer at Electronic Arts from 2011 to 2013.
He also worked at Playfish in production and leadership roles, as well as Glu Mobile as a QA technician.
“Hutch means a lot to me. It is smart, unpredictable and full of people who are both talented, more often than not too tall, and much cooler than I will ever be,” said Watson.
“Leading it is exciting and slightly terrifying, which feels about right for this industry. Thanks to everyone who has supported me so far.”
Kim Swift | COO, Near Studios
Near Studios has appointed Kim Swift as its chief operating officer.
In her new role, Swift will “oversee day-to-day operations, expand development infrastructure, strengthen community engagement strategies, and help steer Near Studios through its next growth phase.”
“After getting to know the Near Studios team and hearing about their vision for the studio […] I knew I wanted to join,” said Swift.
“I’m looking forward to helping evolve the studio’s operations so the team can focus on making Hawthorn an incredible, immersive and charming experience for our players.”
Near Studios CEO Heather Cerlan added: “We’re so excited to have Kim join our small, passionate team at Near Studios. Kim’s leadership and passion for empowering creative teams align deeply with our mission.
“With her support, we’re better equipped than ever to deliver on the promise of Hawthorn and grow the studio in a way that honors the heart and ambition behind everything we make.”
Before joining Near Studios, Swift worked at Xbox Game Studios Publishing as head of creative. She joined as senior director of cloud gaming in 2021.
Swift has held various leadership roles in the industry, including at Google Stadia and Amazon.
She also worked at Electronic Arts for nearly three years, starting in 2017 as studio design director for EA Motive, working on Star Wars: Battlefront 2.
Swift joined the games industry in 2005 at Valve, working as project lead/lead designer on Portal (Orange Box) before becoming a designer/environment artist on Left 4 Dead and Left 4 Dead 2.
Liz Albl | Senior writer (Cyberpunk 2), CD Projekt Red
Liz Albl has joined CD Projekt Red as a senior writer on Cyberpunk 2.
Albl had previously been working at Cloud Chamber as narrative lead for BioShock 4 for nearly three years.
She started her career at Ubisoft as a writing intern in 2013, working on Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag. She became a writer full-time shortly after, working on games such as Far Cry 4, Valley of the Yetis, Far Cry 5, and Watch Dogs: Legion.
Albl was then a senior writer on Sucker Punch Productions’ Ghost of Tsushima, and an advanced writer on Monolith Productions’ Wonder Woman.
Balazs Domjan | 3D Environment Artist, Epic Games
Epic Games has hired Balazs Domjan as a 3D environment artist.
Prior to joining Epic, Domjan was a 3D environment artist at Romero Games.
His first position in the games industry was at Guerilla in 2020 as a 3D environment asset artist working on the Horizon franchise.
He joined Blizzard in 2021 as a scene development 3D artist on Diablo 4, then a dungeon artist in 2022.
Domjan was also a 3D environment asset artist at People Can Fly Studio between January and December 2024.
Michael Burnham | Studio manager, Ubisoft Reflections
Michael Burnham has been appointed studio manager of Ubisoft Reflections, taking over from managing director Lisa Opie.
Burnham has three decades of experience in the industry, having previously held production and studio leadership positions at The Lego Group, Marmalade, Rebellion, Mucky Foot Productions, Bullfrog Productions, and Electronic Arts.
Prior to joining Ubisoft, Burnham was studio director at Supermassive Games.
“The strength and delivery from games developers in UK studios is undeniable,” said Burnham.
“Within that treasure trove, Ubisoft Reflections has been steadfast in delivering across the long term. Joining the studio in the glorious and lively Newcastle was a head- turning opportunity for me.”
Ubisoft chief studios and portfolio officer Marie-Sophie de Waubert added: “Appointing Michael Burnham as studio manager, who has such deep ties to the UK video games industry, positions Reflections for success well into the future.
“I would also like to use the opportunity to thank Lisa Opie for her excellent leadership and her focus on strengthening the studio’s teams and culture. Michael’s arrival builds on that strong foundation as he takes the helm at Ubisoft Reflections.”
Karel Kolmann | Senior quest designer – The Witcher 4, CD Projekt Red
CD Projekt Red has appointed Karel Kolmann as senior quest designer on The Witcher 4.
Prior to joining the developer Kolmann worked at Warhorse Studio. He started at the company in 2017 as a writer/game designer, becoming senior game designer/scripter in 2021, then lead gameplay designer in May 2025.
He worked on Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, working on “several quest and gameplay features” as a “writer, designer, and scripter.”
Josh Goldie | Senior PR account manager, Raptor PR
Josh Goldie has joined Raptor PR as senior PR account manager.
In his role, Goldie will manage “the accounts and team for developers and businesses in the video game industry,” and produce strategy and marketing content for Raptor PR as a whole.
Prior to joining Raptor PR, Goldie was senior account manager at Started PR, as well as senior producer.
He also worked at SkyParlour as public relations consultant for financial technology, and has been the editor-in-chief of Source Gaming for over a decade.
“After so many years of keeping my PR work and my gaming industry work separate, I can now combine these two versions of me and evolve to the next level,” said Goldie.
“I’ve already hit the ground running on some cool projects, like The Battle of Polytopia by Midjiwan AB – Polytopia and the recent State of PC Games Distribution report from Rokky, that you may have seen online already.”
Goldie added: “I hope to deliver more exciting gaming industry news to you all in the near future, and I hope you’ll all support me as I start this next leg in my professional career.”
Jann Jones | Convention programming manager, The Pokémon Company
Jann Jones has started her role as convention programming manager at The Pokémon Company International.
“If you know me and my love of Pokémon, you know how much this means to me,” said Jones. “I am trying to be very chill about this.”
Jones started her career in the games industry at PUBG Corporation as executive editor. She then joined Bungie in 2022 as senior narrative discipline manager, before moving to GalaxyCon as senior director of creator talent and publishing.
Jacqueline Clarke | Director of co-development and outsourcing, PlayStation Studios
PlayStation Studios has hired Jacqueline Clarke as director of co-development and outsourcing.
Prior to joining PlayStation Studios, Clarke worked as a production director at creative agency KWM and at Keywords Studios.
She began her career at Mindwalk Studios as project manager, and joined London-based animation company Spov in 2017, becoming director of operations in 2019.
“After many years working alongside development studios and partners across the industry, it’s a privilege to now contribute from within an organisation that has shaped so much of what inspires us all,” said Clarke.
“The creative excellence of our studios and the collaboration with talented external teams continue to set the benchmark for what’s possible in games.”
Robert Saunders | Senior director, territory communications, Rockstar Games
Robert Saunders has joined Rockstar Games as senior director of territory communications.
Saunders previously worked for Nintendo UK as head of communications for seven years. Prior to joining Rockstar, he was working for Apple in public relations.
He started his career as a press officer at Vital Media Group, before moving to Consolidated PR as senior account executive.
Seb McBride | Expert level designer coordinator, The Witcher 4, CD Projekt Red
CD Projekt Red has promoted Seb McBride to expert level designer coordinator on The Witcher 4.
McBride joined the developer in 2017 as lead designer on Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales.
He worked on Cyberpunk 2077 and its Phantom Liberty expansion as level designer and senior level designer.
McBride moved to The Witcher 4 team in 2022 as senior level designer.
Prior to joining CD Projekt Red, McBride was a level designer at Pixelbomb Games. He also worked at Traveller’s Tales as a QA tester and junior designer.
Travis Boese | Product management director, Teamfight Tactics, Riot Games
Travis Boese has been promoted to director of product management on Teamfight Tactics at Riot Games.
Boese started at Riot Games in 2015 as an associate analyst, before becoming a strategic advisor on Legends of Runterra in 2017.
He then became senior game producer on the game a year later, and worked on an unannounced project in 2021.
Boese joined the Teamfight Tactics team in 2022 as associate director of product management, where he led improvements in its mobile performance and events then monetisation and cosmetics in 2023.
Morgan Nixon | Senior 3D animator, Liquid Entertainment
Liquid Entertainment has hired Morgan Nixon as a senior 3D animator.
Prior to this role, Nixon worked as a 3D animator for Coatsink and was a gameplay animator on Sucker Punch Productions’ Ghost of Yōtei – a project she worked on for almost two years.
Nixon began her career at Halo Studios, joining in 2019 as a summer associate. She became a junior animator on Halo Infinite in 2019, then gameplay animator in 2021.
Cori Rose | Operations coordinator, Third Kind Games
Cori Rose has joined Third Kind Games as operations coordinator.
Rose previously worked at Ubisoft Leamington as a workspace specialist between July 2024 and April 2025 before the role was made redundant.
She started her career in games at Sega Hardlight as an operations assistant, and is also a Women in Games ambassador.
“This opportunity is an exciting new chapter and I can’t wait to dive in and get involved,” said Rose. “I’m so excited to be reunited with Tracy Clark once again and in a studio with so many familiar faces and friends.”
