Riot Games Have Announced Their Next CEO!

Riot Video games have introduced that their subsequent CEO shall be A. Dylan Jadeja later on this 12 months.

Dylan will take over as CEO of Riot Video games from Nicolo Laurent, who has served within the place for the previous 14 years, together with six as CEO.

Dylan started working for Riot in 2011 because the Chief Monetary Officer earlier than being promoted to Chief Working Officer in 2014. Dylan was designated President of Riot after the corporate’s founders switched to co-chair positions in 2017. Dylan has been a major determine in creating Riot’s technique and advancing firm’s tradition.

The CEO transition from Nicolo to Dylan will happen over the approaching months and needs to be accomplished by the tip of 2023, after which Nicolo will stick with Riot in an advisory position. We’ll announce further particulars concerning the management handoff as soon as it’s full, Riot Video games mentioned.

Each Nicolo and Dylan have messages for Rioters.

Nicolo’s message:

Hey Rioters,

After almost 14 years with Riot, and nearly 6 as CEO, I’m going to finish one thing that’s been on my quest log for a while: Later this 12 months, I’m planning to step away from the CEO position to concentrate on my household. 

We simply shared this information throughout RiotNow, and you may take a look at the VOD on Riotnet (video needs to be up an hour from now). However within the meantime, we needed to verify anybody who missed the stream doesn’t miss the information. So, I’ve summarized among the subsequent steps for Riot, together with who shall be taking the reins as the following incoming CEO.

I can think about this information could really feel sudden, however transparently, it’s a call that’s been on my thoughts for some time. I’ve been lucky sufficient to have an extended and superb journey with Riot. I joined the corporate after we had been a 40-person startup in 2009, with the purpose of bringing League of Legends to gamers all over the world. And that journey has introduced me right here, serving all of you, as Riot’s CEO. It’s a narrative I’m very happy with, but when I’m being fully sincere, it’s additionally been robust. Not the grind, the hours, the stress…I’ve grown a tank construct, so I can deal with that half. It’s actually the non-public trade-offs which have been laborious and the sacrifices my spouse and children have made for my profession, together with all our expatriations. We’ve at all times been happy with this as a household, so long as we rebalance sooner or later. Now could be that point. Particularly since we miss France a lot, and wish to transfer again.

Whereas this chapter is coming to a detailed, I don’t view this as an finish — I don’t plan on becoming a member of one other firm or beginning a brand new firm. I like Riot, and I genuinely consider that is the very best place on this planet to make video games… now greater than ever. So I’ll keep at Riot as an advisor, for years to come back, doing the whole lot I can that can assist you win. However, I’m prepared handy the reins to somebody new. To let somebody who has been completely important to Riot’s story, take the pen, and form the chapters forward. 

So, it’s my pleasure to share that Riot’s subsequent CEO shall be Dylan Jadeja.

There’s quite a lot of context on how we approached succession planning and why we finally landed on Dylan as Riot’s future CEO. Marc and Brandon lined all of it within the RiotNow, so I received’t recap all the main points right here. However, I do wish to acknowledge the method. Riot has reached a scale the place we knew we wanted to undertake a extra intensive evaluation of our wants and of candidates. For the primary time in Riot’s historical past, we regarded each inside and out of doors the corporate to search out the perfect particular person for this position and for Riot’s subsequent chapter. The succession planning course of lasted about three years, and we met with quite a lot of unbelievable candidates. When it got here time to check notes, everybody – the Board, our advisors, the founders, our government search agency, and myself – all had Dylan on the very high of their checklist. It was unanimous.

Now, I’ve had the privilege of working with Dylan for years, and I’ve discovered a lot from him. He’s a pure chief who will do the whole lot in his energy to unlock our artistic expertise to do their greatest work. He’s daring in his pondering and has at all times believed within the counterintuitive strikes which have helped us elevate the bar of what’s attainable for gamers. 

One in every of his largest strengths? Empathy. One of the best leaders for the longer term would be the ones who can lead at scale, with empathy, and Dylan is one in every of them. He’s real and humble in his management, but in addition unafraid to ask the robust inquiries to get to the very best reply. 

However most significantly, Dylan has a powerful ardour for Riot’s tradition and DNA. He appreciates what makes Riot particular — nice Rioters and nice groups, who love gamers, and love video games — and can be sure we hold evolving to at all times be the very best model of Riot we will be. 

There are such a lot of the reason why I basically consider he’ll be the right chief to steward Riot over the following a number of years — too many for an e mail that I truly need Rioters to learn. Simply know, I can’t consider a greater particular person to be the following CEO. 

Everyone knows modifications like this may create quite a lot of ambiguity, however I wish to be clear in saying that Dylan and I each need this transition to be as clean as it may be for Rioters. The precise handoff isn’t occurring in a single day. We’re planning to completely transition by the tip of the 12 months and can share extra updates within the coming weeks.

Please be part of me in congratulating Dylan, and I’ll see you subsequent week on the Campfire. 👊

-nicolo

Dylan’s message:

Thanks, Nicolo! 

And whats up Rioters! 

We speak quite a bit about staying hungry and humble, and on a day like at present, I need to admit that “humble” doesn’t sufficiently seize how lucky I really feel. I feel we now have all had the expertise of being astounded by the expertise surrounding us at Riot, however to be requested to guide this unbelievable group of individuals is a particular honor and never one thing that I take flippantly. I’ll do my greatest to make you proud. 

I’ve been right here for greater than 12 years, and in some ways, Riot is my dwelling; a house I’m deeply invested in, fiercely protecting of, and grateful for each single day. I really feel lucky on daily basis to work with among the smartest and most passionate individuals I’ve ever labored with — individuals who have taught me not solely what it means to be a participant, however to sincerely take care of a mission that’s greater than any of us. This ardour and deep take care of gamers shouldn’t be one thing that I’ll ever take with no consideration. 

I’m additionally actually happy with how far we’ve come over time. It actually hasn’t been a simple highway — or an ideal one by any means — however collectively, we’ve completed a lot for gamers. By means of all of it, I’ve been impressed by how we’re by no means afraid to take the highway much less traveled to remain true to one another and our mission. Each Rioter, at each stage, carries a big sense of duty and possession over our future. That is our tremendous energy. 

At the moment, as we begin our subsequent chapter, I’m extra excited than I’ve ever been about our future. I actually consider that our success will rely upon our capacity to empower our artistic coronary heart whereas staying resolute on our mission for gamers, irrespective of how tough the surroundings or the state of affairs. As we face new challenges and alternatives, if we are able to keep true to this, I’d wager on us to not solely succeed, however to set a brand new bar for what’s attainable for gamers. 

As we glance to the transition, it could be disingenuous for me to counsel that I’ve all of the solutions and an motion plan already outlined. The truth is, I’d argue that this might be inauthentic to who I’m and the way I work. Over the following few months, my intention is to make use of this transition window to pay attention and (re)study. I wish to have interaction with components of Riot that I haven’t in a while, significantly on the product facet. We’ve made quite a lot of modifications up to now few years, and along with your assist, I’d prefer to take inventory of the place we’re and get a deeper understanding of what’s working and what we are able to do higher. Throughout this era, I’m going to ask in your endurance, your willingness to share views, and an openness to new concepts. 

As CEO, it’s honest to imagine that I could do some issues otherwise than these earlier than me, however I wish to guarantee you that the purpose for us — collectively — is not going to waver. And that’s to make Riot, unequivocally, probably the most trusted and genuine recreation firm on this planet… constructed by gamers, for gamers. The sort of place the place individuals know that the whole lot they play and expertise from Riot shall be superb and that the whole lot we do is concentrated on making it higher to be a participant.

With gratitude,

Dylan