{"id":647,"date":"2025-07-16T18:08:08","date_gmt":"2025-07-16T18:08:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/647\/"},"modified":"2025-07-16T18:08:08","modified_gmt":"2025-07-16T18:08:08","slug":"ubisoft-names-spinoff-ceos-charlie-guillemot-christophe-derennes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/647\/","title":{"rendered":"Ubisoft Names Spinoff CEOs: Charlie Guillemot, Christophe Derennes"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\tUbisoft<\/a> has set Christophe Derennes<\/a> and Charlie Guillemot<\/a> as the co-CEOs of the French video game company\u2019s new subsidiary.<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\tAnnounced March 27, the spinoff was created to \u201caccelerate the growth\u201d of three of Ubisoft\u2019s top franchises \u2014 \u201cAssassin\u2019s Creed,\u201d \u201cRainbow Six\u201d and \u201cFar Cry\u201d \u2014 and \u201cfocus on building brand ecosystems capable of becoming evergreen, billion-euro franchises.\u201d <\/p>\n

\n\tThe key goal with the spinoff, which is on track to be completed by the end of 2025, is to give \u201cdevelopment teams greater autonomy and agility to fully unlock the potential of these iconic games, while shaping the next generation of player experiences.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tA more-than-35-year vet of Ubisoft and founder and former head of the gaming company\u2019s Montreal studio, Derennes most recently served as Ubisoft\u2019s managing director for North America, while Guillemot (the son of Ubisoft co-founder and CEO Yves Guillemot) previously oversaw Ubisoft-owned studio Owlient and returned to Ubisoft this year to serve on the company\u2019s internal transformation committee. <\/p>\n

\n\tPer Ubisoft, \u201cWith complementary backgrounds, Christophe Derennes and Charlie Guillemot bring strong industry expertise, deep knowledge of the Ubisoft ecosystem, and a shared culture of innovation.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tThe separate entity is funded by a $1.25 billion investment (a 1.16 billion transaction in euros) from gaming company Tencent (which owns 10% of Ubisoft voting rights, while the Guillemot family owns 20%). Tencent will take a minority stake in the spun-off company, which will be 100% controlled and consolidated by\u00a0Ubisoft. <\/p>\n

\n\tDerennes assisted in the launch of Ubisoft\u2019s Montreal studio in 1997 and helped structure quality assurance functions across the group. As executive vice president of production, he oversaw the development of numerous successful games, including those in the \u201cAssassin\u2019s Creed,\u201d \u201cRainbow Six\u201d and \u201cFar Cry\u201d franchises.<\/p>\n

\n\tA successor has not yet been announced to replace Derennes as Ubisoft\u2019s managing director for North America, with a spokesperson for Ubisoft telling Variety: \u201cThis is an ongoing transformation, we will have more to share on the final details of the organization at a later date.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tCharlie Guillemot began his career in gaming at Owlient, a studio acquired by Ubisoft in 2011. In 2014, he took on co-leadership of the 35-person studio and shifted its focus from browser-based free-to-play games to mobile content. In 2022, he exited Ubisoft to co-founded Web3-focused indie game studio Unagi. He came back to Ubisoft earlier this year to join the company\u2019s committee focused on assessing the potential for a buyout, sale or other strategic move, which resulted in the creation of the new subsidiary.<\/p>\n

\n\tSee below for Variety\u2018s Q&A with Ubisoft chief Yves Guillemot and Ubisoft subsidiary co-CEOs Christophe Derennes and Charlie Guillemot about the new appointments.<\/p>\n

\t\tDuring the decisions making process on leadership, were there game directors and execs within the three key franchises (\u201cAssassin\u2019s Creed,\u201d \u201cRainbow Six\u201d and \u201cFar Cry\u201d) looked at as potential co-CEOs, rather than elevating Christophe from his current position?\t<\/p>\n

\n\tYves Guillemot: First of all, I would like to say that we are lucky to have so many talented people working across Ubisoft. Talented teams that brought these brands, and Ubisoft, to where they are today. With this new subsidiary, our goal is to build on that foundation by giving these teams the agility and autonomy they need to take the brands even further. We want the people who know and love these brands best to keep driving them forward, and to do so in an environment that sets them up for success.<\/p>\n

\n\tCharlie and Christophe\u2019s main responsibilities will be to define the strategy and vision for the brands, create the right conditions for the teams to operate at the highest level, and ensure players remain at the heart of everything they do. With Christophe\u2019s extensive operational and production experience, having launched and led the Montreal studio, he has demonstrated throughout his career his ability to do just that. Together, Christophe and Charlie\u2019s role will be to provide the direction and framework to empower the people working on the games to reach new heights.<\/p>\n

\t\tWhat made Charlie and Christophe the best choices for the job, and what are each of their strengths?\t<\/p>\n

\n\tYves Guillemot: Over my 40-year tenure as Ubisoft\u2019s founder and CEO, I have seen firsthand the remarkable evolution of our industry. Alongside the talented individuals who helped build this company, we have managed to create enduring brands that go even beyond games. We\u2019ve continually adapted and innovated to deliver experiences that players love. Over the course of its history, Ubisoft has never stood still, and as we engage in the reimagining of the future of this company, I know Christophe and Charlie are the right people to take this next step.<\/p>\n

\n\tWith this new subsidiary, we want to create the right conditions for teams to bring these brands to their full potential. That means more autonomy, greater agility, and a closer connection to what players want. To that end, Christophe and Charlie bring distinct complementary strengths that will be instrumental in making this new step in the history of Ubisoft a success.<\/p>\n

\n\tWith more than 35 years working at Ubisoft, notably launching and leading the Montreal studio, the biggest video games studio in the world, Christophe brings a deep production expertise and decades of hands-on production leadership in Canada on the Assassin\u2019s Creed, Far Cry and Rainbow Six franchises. Charlie brings an entrepreneurial perspective, a sharp understanding of evolving industry dynamics and players\u2019 expectations, shaped by his experience in game development. He has a strong product mindset, a deep understanding of tech, and a passion for games.<\/p>\n

\n\tAnd moreover, both share their extensive knowledge of the Ubisoft ecosystem, their passion for the company and its brands, and the commitment to ensuring the continuity of the Ubisoft ethos.<\/p>\n

\t\tHow would you address any concerns of nepotism regarding Charlie\u2019s appointment to co-CEO?\t<\/p>\n

\n\tCharlie Guillemot: I\u2019d like to address this question directly, if I may. I completely understand where it comes from, and I want to be clear about it. Yes, I\u2019m Yves\u2019 son. That\u2019s not something I hide from. But my appointment isn\u2019t only about family ties; it\u2019s about what Ubisoft needs at this moment.<\/p>\n

\n\tI\u2019ve spent the last decade building experience both inside and outside Ubisoft, leading teams, managing brands, and navigating change in a fast-moving industry. I also made the conscious choice to step away when it made sense, to learn and grow elsewhere.<\/p>\n

\n\tWhat matters now isn\u2019t my name, it\u2019s the work ahead. Ubisoft is at a pivotal moment. What\u2019s expected of me is to help push the company forward by bringing energy, focus, and by relying on the incredible expertise that already exists across the teams. I see myself as someone here to contribute, support, and help create the right conditions are in place for everyone to do their best work.<\/p>\n

\n\tAnd beyond that, this industry is where I want to be. There\u2019s nowhere quite like it, where creativity, talent, and technology intersect in such dynamic ways, and where you constantly have to adapt to new platforms, new ideas, new expectations from players. That\u2019s what draws me in.<\/p>\n

\n\tI\u2019m fully committed to doing everything I can to make this work. Ubisoft matters to me as a company, as a team, and as a place known for taking risks. I know trust is earned, not given. That\u2019s exactly how I approach this role.<\/p>\n

\t\tCharlie, what is your vision for this company after returning to Ubisoft to work on the transformation team? What learnings from that time are you bringing to this?\t<\/p>\n

\n\tCharlie Guillemot: Ubisoft is a big organization, and with that comes a lot of strength but also complexity. What we\u2019re working on now is evolving Ubisoft\u2019s operating model to bring more focus, more autonomy, and more accountability to the teams so they can stay closely attuned to our players.<\/p>\n

\n\tThe goal isn\u2019t just structural. It\u2019s about creating the right environment for teams to take the creative and technical risks needed to make excellent games. When teams have clarity, ownership, and the freedom to decide, I truly believe that\u2019s when they can do their best work. That\u2019s how Ubisoft can focus again on delivering amazing experiences for our players.<\/p>\n

\n\tSince coming back, I\u2019ve had the opportunity to see firsthand the resilience and ambition driving our evolution. It\u2019s clear across the teams: people want to move forward, to simplify how we work, and to help Ubisoft reach its full potential.<\/p>\n

\n\tFrom my time both inside and outside Ubisoft, one thing I\u2019ve learned is that clarity and energy are what really matter. I\u2019m committed to doing my part in helping us move in that direction together.<\/p>\n

\t\tChristophe, what are your priorities going into this new role after your time spent overseeing these franchises at the studio?\t<\/p>\n

\n\tChristophe Derennes: As I\u2019m stepping into this new position, my priority is to finalize the foundations of this new entity, clarifying team responsibilities while ensuring current projects and roadmaps stay on course.<\/p>\n

\n\tLonger term, the goal is to grow Assassin\u2019s Creed, Rainbow Six, and Far Cry into long lasting pop culture experiences, true to their DNA, constantly evolving, and capable of surprising players. On its own, the Assassin\u2019s Creed franchise has drawn more than 155 million players into its world and has cemented its place as a true part of pop culture. These brands have become full-fledged universes, and we want to expand their reach, cultural impact, and relevance with new audiences even further.<\/p>\n

\n\tThis new subsidiary is an opportunity to create with more autonomy and agility, with clearer responsibility and accountability. Decision-making can be faster, and we can pivot more easily when needed. That added flexibility will be key to creating games that resonate with new audiences, especially younger generations of players who interact with content differently.<\/p>\n

\n\tTo succeed, we need to focus on crafting experiences that players want to immerse themselves in, experiences that evolve with their feedback, and simply put, delivering high-quality games that surprise and delight. That\u2019s how we\u2019ll build the next chapter for these iconic brands.<\/p>\n

\t\tBoth \u2014 what do you see as your specific purviews within the new company, or will you both oversee all aspects?\t<\/p>\n

\n\tCharlie Guillemot: Video game creation is a collective craft. Our objective is to work together with the people who brought these brands to where they are today, creating the right conditions to bring them to their full potential.<\/p>\n

\n\tTo that end, our roles are meant to be complementary. For my part, I will be in charge of the \u201cwhat.\u201d I\u2019ll focus mainly on the brands, their vision, creative direction, content development, as well as marketing. In short: helping define where we want to take each brand and making sure we have the right strategy to get there.<\/p>\n

\n\tChristophe and I will be working very closely together. We each bring different experiences, and the idea is really to combine those strengths to support the teams as effectively as possible.<\/p>\n

\n\tChristophe Derennes: We both share a passion for this industry, and especially for Ubisoft, and what we will bring to the new organization is different and complementary. I\u2019ve worked at Ubisoft for over 35 years, and I\u2019ve seen this industry grow. I\u2019ll bring my production background, knowledge of the video game ecosystem, and my deep knowledge of Ubisoft.<\/p>\n

\n\tMoving forward, I will be in charge of the \u201chow,\u201d meaning production and technology. This organization is still taking shape of course, but this distribution of responsibilities is designed to leverage our complementary strengths with Charlie, and set us up for success in this next step of Ubisoft\u2019s history.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Ubisoft has set Christophe Derennes and Charlie Guillemot as the co-CEOs of the French video game company\u2019s new…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":648,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[45,49,48,1010,1011,1012],"class_list":["post-647","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-business","tag-business","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-charlie-guillemot","tag-christophe-derennes","tag-ubisoft"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/647","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=647"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/647\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/648"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=647"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=647"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=647"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}