eSports

Team Vitality to welcome new Co-CEO from adidas

Published

5 years ago

March 11, 2021

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Guillaume de Monplanet will leverage his 20 years of experience building some of the biggest lifestyle brands in the world such as adidas and Reebok to mastermind Team Vitality’s global expansion, and oversee its growth into a brand that drives culture.

Leading global esports organisation Team Vitality is pleased to announce the appointment of Guillaume de Monplanet as its Managing Director and Co-CEO who joins with over 20 years of experience in the sports and lifestyle industries, including at iconic sportswear brands adidas and Reebok. Having established themselves as a pinnacle esports organisation, Team Vitality has brought Guillaume onboard to elevate its goals of global expansion with physical foundations already set in India and Germany.

The arrival of Guillaume de Monplanet is a major turning point in Team Vitality’s history as it looks to achieve its goal of being a world leader in the esports industry. It’s also a key moment for the sector as one of the most influential business leaders, responsible for building some of the biggest brands around the world, joins the industry. Following the recent recruitment of ex professional Olympic handball player Bruno Martini, the announcement furthers Team Vitality’s strategy to grow with the expertise and experience from pioneers in the sports world.

Guillaume de Monplanet’s move to Team Vitality marks his entrance into the esports industry, having spent the last eight years at adidas where he was the Managing Director for adidas France, overseeing full P&L and overall organisation responsibility for 700+ employees. As part of his role Guillaume drove forward and overhauled the infrastructure of the organisational branch, with a new HQ and management team which focused on diversity and inclusion. Prior to adidas, Guillaume was the Country Brand Director in France for Reebok where he spearheaded the brand’s positioning and growth which included its integration into the adidas group.

In his role at Team Vitality, Guillaume will utilise his background in brand management and growth, as well as his experience of working in cities across the globe to help with Team Vitality’s international expansion and brand awareness. He will also work on refining the organisation’s structure in order to ensure efficiency is part of its foundation, as the brand looks to strengthen its position outside of the esports industry.
“With Reebok and adidas I was very fortunate to grow and cater for two of the most influential global youth culture brands. Rooted in esports, I believe Vitality has the potential to be part of that group of brands. What the team has achieved in just 8 years is amazing. The level of talent and creativity demonstrated everyday at V.Hive and Stade de France, as well as at our international premises, is just stunning. I am looking forward to exploring a new industry and hope my business and leadership expertises will help Team Vitality reach new heights globally. ” said, Guillaume de Monplanet, Managing Director and Co-CEO, Team Vitality

“Vitality has been an amazing journey for the last 8 years and we couldn’t be prouder of what we already achieved. However, we still want to push further to reach the highest heights and this is precisely why we wanted to bring in someone able to carry us to the next level. Guillaume has been a perfect match from the get-go and I’m super humbled and excited to start working with him. Together, we aspire to make Vitality the best esports team in the World. This isn’t our dream, it’s our objective. Also on a more personal note, I’m certain that collaborating with Guillaume will be a fantastic learning experience.” added, Nicolas Maurer, Co-Founder & Co-CEO, Team Vitality

Since its inception in 2013, Team Vitality has grown into one of the most notable esports organisations and home to some of the industry’s best esports players who compete in the biggest global esports titles. Over the last six month, Team Vitality has continued to build upon its esports legacy, most recently announcing its expansion efforts into India and signing a roster in one of the industry’s most advancing games, VALORANT. Team Vitality is also partnered with some of the biggest brands from across tech and lifestyle including adidas, Orange, Philips, Aldi and Corsair.

Asia

Esports Foundation opens 2026 co-streaming Creator Program with $2m rewards pool

Published

4 hours ago

June 12, 2026

Wladimir P.

esports-foundation-opens-2026-co-streaming-creator-program-with-$2m-rewards-pool

The Esports Foundation (EF) has opened applications for its 2026 Creator Program, committing $2 million (~INR 19 crore) in rewards for co-streamers supporting the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026 in Paris and the Esports Nations Cup (ENC) 2026 in Riyadh. EF announced the program on June 12, 2026, from Paris and Riyadh, and said applications are open now, including for creators across India.

EF said co-streaming was a key driver of EWC reach last year, citing 3,500 co-streamers as “one of the key growth pillars” for EWC viewership in 2025. The Foundation is positioning the 2026 Creator Program as a scaled-up initiative, targeting 5,000 creators “across new regions and platforms.”

“This isn’t just an esports trend; it’s a media trend,” said Wasae Imran, Director Broadcast & Distribution at the Esports Foundation. “Across music, video, news and sport, audiences don’t just watch what they’re given anymore. They choose their own experience: what to watch, where to focus, and how deep to go. Esports just lives further down that road than most, and traditional sport is heading the same way. It’s not about delivering a match in one format, it’s about opening up every way into the same moment and letting fans choose how they want to consume it. The Creators Program is how we build for that, by enabling the growth of creators that fans already trust to carry the world’s biggest esports event into every community.”

According to EF, approved creators can co-stream selected tournaments, complete missions, and progress a “Battle Pass” tied to rewards ranging from gift cards and hardware to platform perks and invitations to EWC and ENC. EF said the program supports multiple streaming platforms, including Twitch, YouTube, Bilibili, Huya, and CHZZK.

EF also confirmed operational details for EWC 2026: the event is set for Paris Expo Porte de Versailles from July 6 through August 23, featuring more than 2,000 players and 200 Clubs from over 100 countries across 25 tournaments and 24 games, with a $75 million+ prize pool. ENC 2026 is scheduled for November in Riyadh and will extend the creator program to a nation-based competition format.

The post Esports Foundation opens 2026 co-streaming Creator Program with $2m rewards pool appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

BLAST

BLAST partners with MATCH on premium fan travel for 2026-27 events

Published

21 hours ago

June 11, 2026

Wladimir P.

blast-partners-with-match-on-premium-fan-travel-for-2026-27-events

Deal covers travel and hospitality packages across BLAST’s event slate, starting with BLAST Premier Hong Kong Rivals in November.

BLAST has signed a one-year partnership with MATCH to develop premium fan travel experiences and related commercial opportunities across BLAST events in 2026 and 2027, including the BLAST Premier Hong Kong Rivals 2026. The companies said the work will start immediately, with an initial focus on the BLAST Premier Hong Kong Rivals event in November.

BLAST VP of Destinations and Market Development James Woollard said: “We’re thrilled to partner with MATCH, a company with an unrivalled track record in delivering top-tier fan travel experiences at the biggest sporting events in the world. As BLAST continues to grow globally and attract growing numbers of travelling fans, this partnership represents an exciting opportunity to further elevate the live event experience for fans and audiences across esports.”

MATCH is best known for hospitality and accommodation programmes at major sports events, including four consecutive FIFA World Cups from 2010 to 2022, as well as Ryder Cup tournaments, Formula 1 Grands Prix and ATP tennis tournaments. MATCH Director of UK Events and Business Strategy Richard Parker said: “Esports is one of the most exciting growth frontiers in live entertainment, and BLAST stands out as a world-class platform with incredible potential. At MATCH, we see a tremendous opportunity to bring our expertise in creating premium fan experiences into the esports arena. We are very enthusiastic about the possibility of working together with BLAST to deliver innovative, unforgettable experiences for esports fans worldwide.”

BLAST said MATCH will also bring its network of clients, sponsors, federations, agents and media partners to support international attendance and partner activation, alongside MATCH’s technology and operational infrastructure. The announcement follows BLAST’s 2025 live events activity, where the organiser said it delivered 15 arena shows across 10 countries spanning five titles and sold 194,421 tickets.

The post BLAST partners with MATCH on premium fan travel for 2026-27 events appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Counter-strike

Team Vitality opens V.Hub fan zone for IEM Cologne Major

Published

1 day ago

June 11, 2026

Wladimir P.

team-vitality-opens-v.hub-fan-zone-for-iem-cologne-major

Team Vitality is launching an official fan zone, V.Hub, to coincide with the 2026 IEM Cologne Major. The venue will run June 18-21 at KWB im Stadtpalais, a short walk from the LANXESS Arena.

Access to V.Hub will be free for fans who sign up, with limited availability. Team Vitality said the space is intended to bring together its community, partners and Counter-Strike fans attending the event.

The fan zone will include dedicated areas hosted by Team Vitality and partners Skin.Club, ASUS ROG, EVNIA and Blacklyte. The club said activations will include hands-on experiences and opportunities to play bespoke Counter-Strike maps.

Team Vitality also plans match watch parties, a pop-up shop for official merchandise and giveaways, including an ASUS ROG x Team Vitality co-branded mousepad. During the playoff stage, the club said V.Hub will be set up for trophy photo opportunities with its Major trophies.

Food and drink will be available on site throughout the event, including vegetarian options.

The post Team Vitality opens V.Hub fan zone for IEM Cologne Major appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.