Christian T. Peterson to Step Down as CEO of Asmodee North America
Cristian T. Peterson has announced that he is stepping down as CEO of Asmodee North America to focus on family, health, and the pursuit of other interests.
The complete press release from Asmodee North America follows:
Roseville, MN – Long-time hobby games entrepreneur, designer, and industry veteran Christian T. Petersen told staff this week that he would be stepping down from his role as CEO of Asmodee North America at the end of 2018. Petersen, 46, founded Fantasy Flight Games (FFG) in 1995 and served as its CEO until FFG's merger with Asmodee in 2014, at which time he moved into his current role.
"After nearly twenty years with FFG and four years with Asmodee, I've seen our market go through tremendous change and amazing growth. Tabletop games have been accepted into the fabric of society and represented in pop-culture more positively than anyone could have hoped for when I joined the industry. I feel fortunate to have experienced this phenomenon first-hand, and to have been part of such an incredible journey.
"Now it's time to hand the reins to a new generation of leaders who along with the amazing staff at Asmodee North America and its studios (Catan, Days of Wonder, FFG, Heidelbär, Plaid Hat, and Z-Man) will move forward with their own unique energy and vision. I have no doubt that they'll be better, burn brighter, and achieve ever more fantastic things. I can't wait to see what they'll do, and to play what they'll make.
"The games to be released from our U.S. studios over the next 6-12 months, represent the final game products in which I have played a part. I could not have hoped for a more innovative, more commercially exciting, or more satisfying finale.
"I leave to focus on family, health, and the pursuit of other interests. My departure has been long-planned with the Asmodee Group CEO, and my friend, Stephane Carville.
"I'm proud to leave Asmodee North America in extraordinarily capable hands. I'll always be grateful to my terrific colleagues and business partners over the years, and most especially to the players. I could not have done it without you, but I'm sure you can do it without me."
During his tenure, Petersen provided vision, guidance, and creative input on hundreds of game titles, and was the lead designer on several popular games, including Twilight Imperium and A Game of Thrones: The Board Game. As a business leader, Petersen was among the first to pioneer international co-manufacturing of U.S. tabletop games, and forged successful alliances, partnerships, and licensing relationships with a wide array of persons and organizations.
As Petersen exits his role, Asmodee North America will transition into two distinct business units: Asmodee North America Publishing led by Steve Horvath, and Asmodee North America Distribution led by Andre Kieren.
fightcitymayor wrote: I've never seen anyone in the industry go out on a limb to defend the dude.
I'll just say I have no reason to defend anything about the guy. Any further negativity I'll leave to the imagination.
On the plus side, Steve Horvath getting an even bigger role in the company will be good.
Horvath, on the other hand, is not only personable, but very proactive. That's a hill I'd die on to defend.
I take back not defending CP. He did make some good hiring choices. So there is that.
cranberries wrote: Is this related to the recent purchase?
"the pursuit of other interests" is typically code for "leaving for a position elsewhere that pays more"
"to focus on family, health" is typically code for "was forced out."
So "to focus on family, health, and the pursuit of other interests," usually means some bullshit went down.
Disgustipater wrote: I'm sure the boatload of money softens the blow a little bit.
No kidding. He sold FFG, then turned around and reinvested his cashout back into Asmodee. I'm sure he deserves all the sympathy he can muster...
I grew up working for my dad's small company, and I remember all those dinners where my parents talked about the business. He did sales and installation, and my mom ran the office and did the accounting. They worked long hours and worried constantly about money. They hired and fired people, they sometimes took general contractors to court just to get paid, and our garage often served as a warehouse. By age seven, I was sometimes answering the business phone and taking messages, and at age 16 I lied about my age and joined the laborers union so I could work the union-only construction sites. Most people just don't understand the challenge of being an entrepreneur. You don't just show up for work and get paid, you invest your personal savings and take out loans and burn through cash until you hopefully start making profits. And then you need to keep going, because if you stop growing, somebody else will compete and take away some of your business. And if you are supporting a family, all the pressure is multiplied.
Here's the world's smallest violin... playing just for "the entrepreneurs."Shellhead wrote: Most people just don't understand the challenge of being an entrepreneur.
But srsly... it can be both. CP can be a successful entrepreneur, as well as an arrogant, toxic boss from which a terrible corporate culture grows.