Brian Ward: Building Saudi Arabia’s Global Games and Esports Powerhouse

Brian Ward is the founding CEO of Savvy Games Group, where he leads one of the most ambitious transformations in the global games and esports industry.
With nearly three decades of experience across technology and entertainment, Ward combines studio leadership, investment strategy, operations, and global business building from Riyadh.

Building Savvy Games Group on a Global Scale

Since founding Savvy Games Group in 2021, Brian Ward has led the organization through rapid international expansion, growing it to nearly 4,000 employees across more than 22 countries, according to his professional profile.

Under his leadership, Savvy has deployed more than $12 billion across nine acquisitions and investments, with the profile citing capital efficiency five times above plan.

His role reflects a broader ambition: building a globally competitive games and esports ecosystem while creating long-term value for Savvy’s shareholder, the Public Investment Fund.

Nearly Three Decades in Global Entertainment

Ward brings close to 30 years of experience across some of the world’s most prominent technology and entertainment companies, including Electronic Arts, Microsoft, and Activision Blizzard.

At Activision, he served as Senior Vice President, Worldwide Studios, overseeing development activities spanning portfolio planning, concept design, quality assurance, code release, and customer service.

He managed more than 1,800 development personnel across 22 studios and offices and an operating budget of approximately $450 million.

During his tenure, he also led eleven studio acquisitions, while the profile credits the organization with quadrupling revenue to $4 billion over five years.

A Track Record Across Iconic Franchises

Ward’s career has encompassed strategy, development, operations, and business leadership across major entertainment franchises.

According to his profile, he has contributed to eight #1 entertainment franchises, with lifetime revenues exceeding $45 billion. The 517 games with which he has been involved across 37 platforms have collectively received more than 300 Game of the Year and 1,400 Editor’s Choice and Outstanding Achievement awards.

This experience provides a distinctive foundation for his leadership of Savvy’s global portfolio.

From Games Executive to Industry Builder

Before Savvy, Ward founded and led LottoInteractive, serving as CEO from 2012 to 2021 and building an award-winning developer of skill-based mobile games for lotteries and iGaming operators.

Earlier leadership positions included Director, Studio Planning at Microsoft Games Studios and Director, Business Affairs at Electronic Arts, giving him experience across studio operations, planning, business affairs, and international entertainment markets.

Expanding Global Industry Leadership

Beyond his role as CEO of Savvy Games Group, Ward has held several influential board and leadership positions across the games and esports ecosystem.

He serves as Chairman of Scopely, ESL FACEIT Group, and Steer Studios, while also serving on the boards of organizations including the Saudi Authority for Gaming and Esports, Embracer Group, and Hero Esports.

These positions reinforce his role in shaping the strategic direction of a rapidly evolving global industry.

A Business and Legal Foundation

Ward’s leadership combines commercial experience with a legal background. He holds an LL.B. in Law and a B.Comm. in Business Administration from the University of Alberta, alongside executive education in finance from MIT Sloan School of Management.

He also previously practiced as an attorney at a leading Canadian law firm and was recognized as “Technology and New Media Entertainment Counsel of the Year” by The Association of Media & Entertainment Counsel.

Recognition

Brian Ward’s journey reflects the evolution of gaming from entertainment into a major global business ecosystem. From leading international studios and billion-dollar portfolios to building Savvy Games Group from Riyadh, his career is defined by scale, strategic investment, operational execution, and global industry leadership.

At Savvy, Ward continues to play a central role in advancing Saudi Arabia’s position within the international games and esports landscape while building a globally connected platform for growth and innovation.