Evil Geniuses have announced that their CEO, Peter ‘ppd’ Dager, will be stepping down from his role as the team restructures their management.
In his absence, current Dota 2 manager Phillip Aram will assume the role of COO. To help managing the company and Dota 2 roster, Phillip will also be bringing extra staff to the team.
A statement from the team’s announcement read that Peter’s parting was “an amicable one”, and the club thanked him for his time as CEO after Twitch’s divestment. Peter himself described the move as “a personal decision based entirely on my desires both personally and professionally”.
“Leaving EG will be bittersweet, but ultimately I see nothing but a successful future for both myself and the organization I am leaving behind,” he said. “I want to thank all of the staff and teammates who I have been fortunate to work with over the last four years and will continue to wish them nothing but continued success.”
Phillip Aram, who is also a part-owner of the team and board member, said he was “humbled” to take over as the leader of Evil Geniuses. “Going forward, I can see immense potential and new opportunities at our fingertips that I will grasp with all my energy,” he said. “EG will continue to be an organization and community of supporters who celebrate and care for our players and their achievements at a level second to none. Thank you for your continued support.”
It is rumoured that Peter steps down to return to professional gaming as a Dota 2 competitor, according to an article run by Esports Heaven earlier this month. He had formerly been a member of the fan-favourite EG lineup since February 2014. Peter took over as CEO four months after the role’s previous tenant, Alex Garfield, departed suddenly in August 2016.
Yesterday’s managerial redesign announcement was accompanied by the news of a roster change, in somewhat tumultuous times for the organisation. Long-term presence Ludwig “zai” Wåhlberg departs the team after lacklustre results at esports’ most lucrative tournament, The International.
“This past year has been the most entertaining year of Dota I’ve had, playing with and being part of EG has been a wonderful experience,” said Ludwig. “However, after reflecting on the year and this recent TI I can no longer see myself continuing with the team, and hope that this departure will benefit both sides going forward.”
His departure marks a testing first challenge for the new man at the reins, but new COO Phillip Aram stated that he viewed the situation as “a great opportunity to reinvigorate our roster after a disappointing end to the season”.
Esports Insider says: A turbulent period for Evil Geniuses lies ahead, as the team looks to get back on track for the upcoming year of competition. We wish Phillip the best of luck in his new role.