AoE Creative has hired leading industry designer Evan Eckard as its new Creative Director. 

The Dallas, Texas-based gaming, esports, and nerd culture creative and marketing agency says Eckard will help it “redefine best practices, tailoring the creative agency experience to something that optimally fits the unique demands and practices of the gaming and esports industry.”

Eckard’s esports experience includes collaborating with Los Angeles-based organisation and lifestyle brand 100 Thieves – something that AoE says “defines the modernization of competitive gaming apparel.” 

He has also worked with many tech startups, focusing on branding, UI, and users experience, including for music streaming app Pretzel Rocks, and collaborating with pop culture media giants, celebrities and influencers. 

Notably Eckard worked branding and design for rock legend Marky Ramone, and on merchandise for CS:GO star Michael “Shroud” Grzesiek. 

AoE Co-founder and Chief Creative Officer, Markel Lee, has collaborated with Eckard previously, and says he’s particularly excited by his love for package and physical print – something which, he says, most people in the esports and game space tend to overlook. 

AYO.NEWS says:

Already counting FCFL, Houston Outlaws, Sansar, and Optic Gaming among its clients, bringing aboard creative talent of Eckard’s calibre can only help AoE flourish in this exciting space. The growth of the gaming and esports design scene is also yet another sign of how quickly the industry is professionalising. 

‘AYO.NEWS says’ features the opinion of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of Pentagon Digital Limited or its affiliates or associates. 

All original content featured on this site is © Pentagon Digital Limited, 2020

North American esports organisation and lifestyle brand 100 Thieves has appointed Jeremy Azevedo as Vice President of Content. 

Previously Head of Gaming Programming at IGN Entertainment, Azevedo has also worked in programming and development at Machinima, CraveOnline, Group Nine Media, Jukin Media, and Discovery Digital Networks. 

Los Angeles-based 100 Thieves was founded in 2017 and now fields teams in League of Legends, Fortnite, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, and Valorant. 

AYO.NEWS says:

With tens of millions of people losing their jobs around the world due to the COVID-19 lockdowns, it’s great to see esports organisations are continuing to invest in talent, and we’re sure Azevedo will be a valuable asset to 100 Thieves. 

Only yesterday we reported that Malta-based Esports Entertainment Group had made two senior leadership appointments, while on Monday tournament organiser ESL named Patricia von Halle as new Director of Consumer Marketing, and esports betting platform Luckbox revealed it is recruiting for 5 key positions.

‘AYO.NEWS says’ features the opinion of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of Pentagon Digital Limited or its affiliates or associates. 

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Malta-based gambling operator Esports Entertainment Group (EEG) has appointed two Argyll Entertainment executives to key leadership positions.

Stuart Tilly has been named new Corporate Secretary, while Dan Marks has been appointed as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). 

Tilly is co-founder and current CEO, and Marks is CFO, of Argyll Entertainment, the UKGC-licensed operator of SportNation.bet. 

Tilly has also held several in-house legal residences with major gaming companies, and in 2012 founded the iGaming Counsel – a regulatory and commercial advisory service for the industry.

Marks has nearly two decades of experience in financial and operations leadership roles, mainly in the corporate banking sector, including as Chief Operating Officer (COO) for the UK Coverage team at Barclays, and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for large US-based corporations and mid-market enterprises at HSBC in New York.  

Discussing the appointments CEO of Esports Entertainment Group, Grant Johnson, said:

“We’re excited to officially welcome Stuart and Dan to the Esports Entertainment team. As CEO and CFO of Argyll Entertainment, they have proven their ability to execute in our industry, growing the business from start-up to $12 million in revenue annually in just a few short years. As we continue to ramp the Vie.gg platform this experience will be invaluable.”

Commenting on his new role Tilly said:

“Esports Entertainment is ideally positioned to capitalize on a wealth of opportunities as growth in the esports industry continues to gain momentum. I am excited to be part of the team and look forward to my role in building a leading global brand.”

While Marks added:

“I am delighted to be joining Esports Entertainment at such an exciting time, after becoming the first online e-sports betting company to list on NASDAQ. I look forward to working with the strong leadership team and assisting the Company in achieving its strategic and financial goals.”

AYO.NEWS says:

It seems like everything is full-steam ahead at EEG, and the company is certainly attracting some heavyweight talent from the world of iGaming and finance. 

Earlier this month the company announced the appointment of esports and gaming industry veteran, Magnus Leppäniemi, as Vice President of Marketing and Head of Esports at betting platform VIE.gg. 

The company also recently set up a New Jersey subsidiary, GMBL New Jersey Inc., and started onboarding new affiliate partners.  

‘AYO.NEWS says’ features the opinion of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of Pentagon Digital Limited or its affiliates or associates. 

All original content featured on this site is © Pentagon Digital Limited, 2020

Simona chats with David Minns, founder of Joystick.dating – the new dating service specifically designed for the gaming and esports community. 

Find out the inspiration and logic behind setting up a niche service in a sector dominated by huge players like Facebook and Tinder, and what makes Joystick special. 

Don’t forget to check out Joystick.dating

Isle of Man-based esports betting operator Luckbox is looking to make five key hires as it pursues its ambitious growth plans. 

The company, which recently announced a CAD $4.5M funding drive and plans to publicly list on the TSX Venture Exchange, is now advertising for a Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Head of Marketing, VP of Operations, CRM Lead, and a node.js Backend Developer. 

Luckbox says the roles can be based at its offices in the Isle of Man or Bulgaria, or even fully remotely for the right candidates. Full details of the opportunities are available here.

Commenting on the news Luckbox CEO, Quentin Martin, said:

“It’s been a fantastic year for us so far and our oversubscribed funding round has put us in the perfect position to capitalise. We’re now ensuring we maintain that momentum by filling these very important roles with the right people who share our passion for growing Luckbox rapidly.

“We see these roles as a priority right now and we will be further strengthening the team in the coming months.”

Luckbox now offers wagering on Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Dota 2, League of Legends, Overwatch, Call of Duty, King of Glory, Starcraft II, Starcraft, Hearthstone, FIFA, NBA 2K, Rocket League, and Rainbow Six Siege. 

AYO.NEWS says:

Despite the COVID-19 crisis still raging across the world, things are looking up for the Luckbox team, with business booming, the company about to become only the second dedicated esports betting operator to be publicly listed, and even the Isle of Man completely out of lockdown so they can all pop down the pub to celebrate! 

‘AYO.NEWS says’ features the opinion of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of Pentagon Digital Limited or its affiliates or associates. 

All original content featured on this site is © Pentagon Digital Limited, 2020

Esports tournament organiser ESL has appointed Patricia von Halle as Director of Consumer Marketing. 

Having joined ESL in late 2016 as Marketing Manager, a year later von Halle became a contracted Counter-Strike: Global Offensive observer, and two years after that was appointed Lead Event Marketing. 

Before joining ESL, von Halle worked as a copywriter and editor with 99Damage and Gute Propaganda. 

Earlier this month ESL announced the appointment of former ProSeibenSat.1 executive Stefan Beitz as its new Chief Financial Officer. 

AYO.NEWS says:

With the global economy plummeting headlong into a COVID-19 lockdown triggered catastrophe, it’s great to see the esports industry is still bucking the trends and making new appointments! Given her experience and passion for esports, we’re sure von Halle will excel at her latest role. 

‘AYO.NEWS says’ features the opinion of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of Pentagon Digital Limited or its affiliates or associates. 

All original content featured on this site is © Pentagon Digital Limited, 2020