Brian Ward resigns from his position as CEO of Savvy Games Group

Brian Ward is exiting his position as CEO of Savvy Games Group, as revealed in a memorandum to employees obtained by Bloomberg.

Ward commented on the leadership transition, stating, "As Savvy embarks on its next period of transformational growth, this is the right time for new leadership for that evolution."

Turqi Alnowaiser, who serves as deputy governor of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) and leads its International Investments Division, will temporarily take over as CEO.

Ward, who has been CEO since Savvy Games Group's formation in 2021, has been integral to a $37.8 billion initiative aimed at enhancing Saudi Arabia's influence in the global gaming sector.

Savvy Games Group, wholly owned by the PIF, was highlighted by Ward as a key part of Saudi Arabia's plans for economic and social transition.

Under Ward's leadership, Savvy made significant acquisitions, such as purchasing Moonton from Bytedance for $6 million and acquiring Scopely for $4.9 billion in 2023.

His previous roles include senior positions at Electronic Arts, Xbox, and Activision.

Ward's decision to step down came on the heels of a $55 billion acquisition of EA by a consortium led by the PIF.

Reports from Bloomberg suggest the acquisition has sparked internal concerns at Savvy regarding the management structures of the two large Saudi-owned gaming enterprises, as per sources familiar with both entities.