Jagex has appointed seasoned US games industry executives Nick Beliaeff, formerly of Trion Worlds and Sony Online Entertainment, as Senior Vice President of Game Development, and gaming technology leader, Rob Cordero, previously of ZeniMax Online Studios and NCSoft, as Vice President of Technology.
Reporting to CEO Phil Mansell, Nick and Rob are the latest in a string of high-profile talent joining Jagex as it extends its living game RuneScape franchise to mobile, and invests in its existing portfolio of living games, the production of new titles, and expands its publishing interests.
Phil Mansell, CEO, Jagex, said:
“Jagex continues to introduce senior talent to support our growth plans and our vision to become the home of living games. Both Nick and Rob were attracted to Jagex by that vision and the scale of our ambition. Nick is recognised as a veteran games development leader and brings expertise in MMO games and PC, console and mobile production. Rob is a passionate technical leader, with a great track record in building and delivering vast online technical infrastructures and platforms in online gaming. Together, their experience reflects a similar scope to Jagex’s ambitions of a broader portfolio of living games.”
Nick Beliaeff, SVP of Game Development, is a seasoned games production executive with more than 30 years’ industry experience. Nick was recently SVP Development at Trion Worlds, responsible for all internal and external development, and led Rift and Defiance to market. Prior to Trion Worlds, Nick was Executive Director of Development at Sony Online Entertainment’s San Diego Studio, leading live operation services for the EverQuest franchise of titles and led the studio’s console division.
Nick joins Jagex from Spin Master, the award-winning toy company where he was VP of Production, focussed on transmedia products that united video games, toys, and television.
Nick said:
“Having been involved in online games since 1997, it’s been my privilege to work on some of the industry’s major online gaming brands, from EverQuest to Rift and Defiance. Now I’m super excited to join Jagex and the team working on RuneScape, one of the most iconic online game franchises of the past two decades, and be part of the leadership group steering its future as we expand our offerings beyond PC to mobile, and contribute to our live game publishing offering to partner studios.”
Rob Cordero, VP of Technology, has worked as a technology leader in online game publishing for more than ten years. Rob’s previous roles include Director of Studio Services at ZeniMax Online Studios, leading the creation of The Elder Scrolls Online publishing platform, and at NCSoft as Senior Director of Tech, responsible for technical infrastructure supporting City of Heroes and Guild Wars. As VP of Technology, Rob will lead Jagex’s technology strategy and oversee the company’s IT, network operations, tech services and platform teams.
Rob said:
“This is a thoroughly exciting time to join the Jagex team and lead its technology strategy as we grow our portfolio of living games, taking the RuneScape franchise multi-format with the addition of mobile and the production of new IP, all of which will be underpinned by robust and progressive technologies.”
