Skybound hires ex-EA biz dev exec because it ponders acquisitions

Skybound Leisure, the multi-platform leisure firm behind mega hit franchises like
The Strolling Useless, has employed an acquisitions specialist to think about buying different corporations.

Approaching board is Jeff Chaiken, a former EA government who will likely be Skybound’s new senior vp and head of company improvement and technique, a brand new position for the corporate. Chaiken involves Skybound with over three a long time of expertise in M&A, partnerships, and technique throughout the media and leisure and expertise sectors.

That’s proper, small sport corporations. The Strolling Useless firm would possibly come shuffling after you.

Chaiken was most lately head of company improvement and technique at Digital Arts (EA), the place he efficiently accomplished transactions increasing EA’s world studio footprint, enhancing EA’s cellular, sports activities, and leisure portfolios, and bringing new expertise, IP, and expertise to the corporate.

Notable transactions embrace the acquisitions of Respawn Leisure, the creators of Titanfall, Apex Legends, and Star Wars: Jedi & Fallen Order; Codemasters’ racing portfolio, together with the extremely acclaimed F1 Racing; and the addition of many different fan favourite video games akin to Golf Conflict, Design Dwelling,
Covet Style, and Tremendous Mega Baseball.

Apart from The Strolling Useless, which was created by Skybound founder Robert Kirkman, Skybound additionally owns the Invincible and Influence Winter leisure properties.

Becoming a member of throughout a interval of notable world enlargement for Skybound, Ned Sherman, chief enterprise affairs & authorized officer at Skybound Leisure notes, “We’re so excited to welcome Jeff as a key chief on our government group. By bringing Jeff on, we’re signaling to the market and the enterprise neighborhood that we’re eagerly and actively on the lookout for extra offers.”

Chaiken will likely be integral to Skybound’s strategic planning efforts, specializing in figuring out and executing world initiatives, together with progress fundraising, investments, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), joint ventures, partnerships, and different strategic transactions.

Chaiken sees an amazing alternative in becoming a member of Skybound to steer the corporate’s bold initiatives as effectively.

“Skybound’s experience in bringing compelling leisure experiences to audiences throughout mediums, unlocks thrilling first-to-market benefits throughout the TV, movie, online game, animation, board sport, and merchandise sectors. Skybound has a broad portfolio of beloved content material & IP, and a high-caliber, skilled group comprised of the trade’s high expertise, and I’m trying ahead to working with this group to proceed Skybound’s spectacular world progress,” stated Chaiken, in an announcement.

Chaiken’s rent comes on the heels of a number of lately accomplished progress transactions by Skybound, together with the acquisition of Sagafilm ehf, a outstanding Nordic manufacturing firm; a majority funding in Nordic video games writer fifth Planet Video games; a strategic partnership with sport maker MegaCat Studios; an funding in French manufacturing firm Scenario42, helmed by leisure tastemaker Médéric Albuoy; and the institution of Skybound’s newest outpost, Skybound Japan, specializing in Manga, anime, and different Japanese leisure kinds.

Previous to EA, Chaiken held management roles in company improvement supporting Hewlett-Packard’s software program & expertise enterprise and in technique consulting at Accenture within the Media & Expertise sector.