eSports
Team Vitality to welcome new Co-CEO from adidas
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.
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IESF signs host agreement with Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports and the Qazaq Cybersport Federation in Astana.
Astana has been confirmed as the host city for the IESF World Esports Championship 2027 (WEC27), following a host agreement signing ceremony involving the International Esports Federation (IESF), the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and the Qazaq Cybersport Federation.
IESF said the event is expected to draw participation across more than 150 IESF Member Federations through the qualifiers, with national teams competing via IESF-recognized national member structures.
“WEC27 will be more than a championship. It will be a global celebration of nations, athletes, and the future of esports,” said Vlad Marinescu, President of IESF. “For every player, there is no greater honor than competing under their national flag and officially representing their nation on the world stage. That is what makes the World Esports Championship so powerful and so unique. In 2027, Astana will welcome the world and proudly stand as the Esports Capital in the World of Esports, uniting our Member Federations, athletes, fans, and communities. Kazakhstan has shown remarkable vision, ambition, and commitment, and we are confident that WEC27 will deliver an unforgettable championship and a lasting legacy for the global esports family.”
Yerbol Myrzabosynov, Minister of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan, said: “We are honored that the International Esports Federation has entrusted Kazakhstan with hosting the World Esports Championship 2027. This reflects the confidence in our country’s ability to deliver an event of the highest international standard. Hosting WEC27 reinforces our commitment to advancing esports and creating new opportunities for young people through sport, technology, education, and international cooperation. We look forward to welcoming the World of Esports to Astana and showcasing Kazakhstan as a destination capable of delivering world-class international events.”
Kuanyshbek Yessekeyev, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Qazaq Cybersport Federation, added: “We sincerely thank the International Esports Federation for the trust and confidence placed in Kazakhstan to host the World Esports Championship 2027. This is a historic milestone for our esports community and a testament to the progress we have achieved together with our partners. Alongside IESF, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, and our national stakeholders, we are committed to delivering an outstanding championship for athletes, fans, and the World of Esports. WEC27 will inspire future generations, accelerate the growth of esports in Kazakhstan, and strengthen our country’s position as a leading esports and digital innovation hub.”
IESF said more details, including schedule, qualification pathway, venues, official titles, ticketing, and the event program, will be announced in the coming months via its official channels.
The post Astana to host IESF World Esports Championship 2027 appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Esports and live events operator says it stayed profitable in 2025 and plans 15 arena events across 13 cities in 2026.
BLAST has opened a New York City headquarters in Brooklyn as the company reported record growth and profitability in 2025, including more than $133 million in revenue and over 40% year-over-year growth.
The new U.S. headquarters is located at 45 Main Street in Brooklyn within a shared 55,000-square-foot office space. BLAST said the hub will support partnerships, live events and commercial growth across North America as it expands its U.S. operations.
The North American push is being led by Chief Business Officer Leo Matlock, who has relocated to New York, alongside Steve Rossi, who joined earlier this year as SVP of Brand Partnerships. BLAST said its U.S. team has grown to eight full-time employees.
BLAST said it has staged seven tier-one esports events in North America over the past 16 months, across Austin, Fort Worth, Boston, Raleigh, Los Angeles and Salt Lake City. The company cited “more than $102 million” in economic impact from the 2025 BLAST.tv Austin Major alone, including more than $9 million in hotel expenditures. It also recently announced the Rocket League World Championship will return to Fort Worth in September 2026.
In 2025, BLAST said its broadcasts delivered more than 2 billion live views globally and 300 million hours watched, spanning live events in 22 cities worldwide. The company also said it distributes content via 29 broadcast partners, including SuperSport, France TV and RTBF, reaching audiences in more than 150 territories and 30+ languages.
“Competitive entertainment has become one of the fastest-growing sectors in global media because it combines community, technology and live experiences in entirely new ways,” said Robbie Douek, CEO of BLAST. “The next generation of fans want entertainment that feels participatory, social and global by default. That shift is creating enormous opportunities for brands, publishers, creators and host cities, and we believe BLAST is uniquely positioned to help lead that evolution after a landmark year in 2025.” BLAST said it plans to host 15 arena events across 13 cities and three continents in 2026.
The post BLAST opens New York HQ as 2025 revenue tops $133m on 40%+ growth appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
BLAST, the Denmark-founded competitive entertainment and esports events company, reported record growth and continued profitability in 2025 and said it has opened a New York headquarters as it expands across North America.
The company said it delivered more than 40% year-over-year growth and generated more than $133 million in revenue in 2025, while remaining profitable and continuing to invest in global expansion. BLAST said its U.S. headquarters at 45 Main Street in Brooklyn sits within a shared 55,000-square-foot office space and will serve as its central base for partnerships, live events and commercial growth across North America.
The expansion is being led by Chief Business Officer Leo Matlock, who has relocated to New York, and Steve Rossi, who joined earlier this year as SVP of Brand Partnerships. BLAST said its U.S. team has grown to eight full-time employees.
BLAST pointed to recent North American activity, saying it has hosted seven tier-one esports events across Austin, Fort Worth, Boston, Raleigh, Los Angeles and Salt Lake City over the past 16 months. The company said these events have generated economic impact for host destinations, including more than $102 million from the 2025 BLAST.tv Austin Major alone, including more than $9 million in hotel expenditures. BLAST also said the Rocket League World Championship will return to Fort Worth in September 2026.
On content reach, BLAST said its 2025 broadcasts delivered more than 2 billion live views globally and 300 million hours watched across live events in 22 cities, distributed through 29 broadcast partners across online platforms and linear broadcasters. “We’re seeing tremendous momentum globally and all across North America, not just in esports fandom, but in how brands, game publishers, cities and entertainment companies are thinking about gaming culture, engaging competitions and digital-first audiences,” said Leo Matlock, Chief Business Officer at BLAST. The company said it plans to host 15 arena events across 13 cities and three continents in 2026.
The post BLAST reports 40% revenue growth in 2025, opens New York headquarters appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
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