Brian Ward is the Group CEO of Savvy Games Group, a Public Investment Fund (PIF) company leading investment and long-term growth in global gaming and esports. With nearly 30 years of experience, he previously led worldwide studios at Activision Blizzard and held key roles at Electronic Arts and Microsoft. Under Brian’s leadership, Savvy has grown into a major player in the industry with 3,500 employees across 22 countries, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s goal of becoming a global gaming and esports hub by 2030. 0:00 Intros 6:23 Saudi Gaming Passion 10:43 Skills Benefits of Gaming 14:05 VR Innovation 15:05 Industry Challenges 16:55 Evolution of Games1 8:59 Sports Brand Partnerships 25:55 Personal Favorites 31:37 Acquisition Growth Success 36:01 Horizontal Leadership 38:08 Building a Talented Team 40:05 Taking Risks Being Adaptable 46:03 Overcoming Career Labels 47:07 Savvy’s Mission Esports Dominance 53:22 Final Thoughts Anecdotes
