Polygon Studios ushers in group of top-level gaming hires from web2 firms

The trickle of talent from web2 to web3 continues, with five new hires for the gaming arm of Polygon.

Polygon Studios has named Michael Blank as COO and Young Ko as CFO, according to a statement on Tuesday from the company. The new hires join recently appointed CEO Ryan Wyatt, who previously headed up YouTube’s gaming arm.

Blank previously spent almost two decades with Electronic Arts (EA), serving as senior vice president of Player Network. In that capacity, he led global teams that drove EA’s direct-to-consumer digital gaming platform and social ecosystem. 

Young spent the past nine years as the VP of finance at Penske Media, whose brands include Rolling Stone, Billboard, Variety, and SXSW. He oversaw the finance, accounting, treasury and global tax teams. 

The firm also hired former Amazon executive Urvit Goel as VP of gaming business development. At Amazon, Goel launched the company’s cloud gaming business.

Charnjit Bansi is joining as VP of game design. His previous roles have included web2 game development Infinity Ward and Sledgehammer Games, creators of the Call of Duty franchise. 

Ben Watley also joins as senior director of strategy for gaming. Watley previously worked a three-year stint at EA.

The all-male group hire marks a push by the company to bolster its gaming initiative. Polygon Studio’s partners already include blockchain-based gaming figures such as Animoca Brands, a metaverse startup valued at over $5 billion spearheading the Bored Ape Yacht Club video game.