Hoby Darling Named as President of Riot Games

Business

22 April 2025 11:52

Riot Games has announced the appointment of Hoby Darling as its new President. According to release, Darling will collaborate with teams across Riot to help drive innovation, nurture creativity, and continue delivering meaningful experiences to players around the world.

The release provided the details of Darling’s career. He has held senior leadership positions at Logitech, Skullcandy/Astro Gaming, Nike, and Volcom, consistently pushing the envelope in product innovation and brand storytelling.

At Logitech, he served on the global executive team where he led several portfolio companies and co-founded a new division focused on esports athletes, digital creators, and the evolving landscape of play. During his time at Nike, Darling contributed to shaping the future of sport both in real life and virtual spaces, while also working closely with Nike-owned brands like Converse and Cole Haan.

More:Wildcard Parts Ways with "Grizz" and "SLIGHT"

As CEO of Skullcandy and Astro Gaming, Darling united gaming, music, art, and action sports, helping to position Astro as a global leader in high-end gaming gear. Earlier in his career at Volcom, he played a key role in expanding the skate, snow, and surf brand into a global lifestyle powerhouse.

Reflecting on his new role at Riot Games, Darling shared his enthusiasm for the company’s unique spirit and mission: “The first time I walked into Riot, I felt a scrappy, soulful, and courageous energy I knew I needed to be a part of. I’ve worked with a lot of companies, and there’s something special about a place that takes risks, challenges convention, and stays fiercely committed to its mission. Riot has a long history of creating experiences that truly matter to players, and I couldn’t be more excited to work alongside passionate Rioters who push each other to do their best work every day.”

On Reddit, a popular forum for player discussion, reactions were mixed — with many users expressing doubt about how his marketing-heavy experience aligns with the needs of a gaming-first company.

“Dude sounds like a textbook marketer,” one Redditor wrote. “They’re probably going to keep pushing revenue growth as usual. He sounds like he’s involved in ad integrations. Aka they’re gonna milk the game dry. Probably a less intrusive way but still going to milk it.”

While some are taking a wait-and-see approach, others worry that the focus may shift too far toward business strategy and monetization, and away from core gameplay and community-first decision-making — areas Riot has historically championed.

Tags: Riot Games

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Hoby Darling Named as President of Riot Games

Business

22 April 2025 11:52

Tags: Riot Games

Riot Games has announced the appointment of Hoby Darling as its new President. According to release, Darling will collaborate with teams across Riot to help drive innovation, nurture creativity, and continue delivering meaningful experiences to players around the world.

The release provided the details of Darling’s career. He has held senior leadership positions at Logitech, Skullcandy/Astro Gaming, Nike, and Volcom, consistently pushing the envelope in product innovation and brand storytelling.

At Logitech, he served on the global executive team where he led several portfolio companies and co-founded a new division focused on esports athletes, digital creators, and the evolving landscape of play. During his time at Nike, Darling contributed to shaping the future of sport both in real life and virtual spaces, while also working closely with Nike-owned brands like Converse and Cole Haan.

More:Wildcard Parts Ways with "Grizz" and "SLIGHT"

As CEO of Skullcandy and Astro Gaming, Darling united gaming, music, art, and action sports, helping to position Astro as a global leader in high-end gaming gear. Earlier in his career at Volcom, he played a key role in expanding the skate, snow, and surf brand into a global lifestyle powerhouse.

Reflecting on his new role at Riot Games, Darling shared his enthusiasm for the company’s unique spirit and mission: “The first time I walked into Riot, I felt a scrappy, soulful, and courageous energy I knew I needed to be a part of. I’ve worked with a lot of companies, and there’s something special about a place that takes risks, challenges convention, and stays fiercely committed to its mission. Riot has a long history of creating experiences that truly matter to players, and I couldn’t be more excited to work alongside passionate Rioters who push each other to do their best work every day.”

On Reddit, a popular forum for player discussion, reactions were mixed — with many users expressing doubt about how his marketing-heavy experience aligns with the needs of a gaming-first company.

“Dude sounds like a textbook marketer,” one Redditor wrote. “They’re probably going to keep pushing revenue growth as usual. He sounds like he’s involved in ad integrations. Aka they’re gonna milk the game dry. Probably a less intrusive way but still going to milk it.”

While some are taking a wait-and-see approach, others worry that the focus may shift too far toward business strategy and monetization, and away from core gameplay and community-first decision-making — areas Riot has historically championed.

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