Riot Games Unites Publishing and Esports Under New Leadership

Riot Games, the creator of League of Legends, has announced the creation of a new combined division for its publishing and esports operations. This move aims to streamline the company's efforts across its professional gaming, music, and publishing ventures, as well as its games.

The new division is led by John Needham, who previously served as the president of Riot's esports division. The goal is to create a more cohesive and seamless experience for players by integrating these different aspects of Riot's business.

In addition to this restructuring, Riot Games is also dividing its TV and film development into two separate branches. Christian Linke will lead the animation side, while Brian Wright will oversee live-action projects.

"For the past year, we’ve been working to realign our organization and structure to better serve players," said Riot CEO Dylan Jadeja. "We want every moment a player spends with us to be worthwhile, and that’s best achieved when we authentically blend our games, esports, music, and storytelling into cohesive, immersive experiences. Today marks another step on that journey. John, Christian, and Brian are incredible leaders who care deeply about our players. I’m confident that, together with our game development teams, they will create even more memorable and defining moments for both players and Rioters."

John Needham added, "This new role reflects Riot’s commitment to enhancing the player experience. Having worked across various teams at Riot, I’ve seen firsthand the impact that authentic publishing and world-class esports can have on delivering exceptional experiences. By unifying these efforts, we hope to create moments and experiences that will resonate deeply with our players."