Nitish Mittersain, co-founder of Indian gaming firm Nazara Technologies, will step down as CEO, with Bluetile Video games founder Raymond A. Stauffer set to succeed him.

Stauffer is anticipated to take workplace on 1 September 2026, or one other date decided by Nazara’s board after the completion of all required regulatory and statutory approvals.

Mittersain’s resignation as CEO will take impact when Stauffer assumes the place. He’ll proceed as Nazara’s managing director.

Stauffer will lead the group’s day-to-day operations, integration and portfolio efficiency. He will even oversee shared capabilities throughout product, information, AI, person acquisition and monetisation.

Mittersain will deal with the corporate’s long-term technique, portfolio route, strategic partnerships and key stakeholder relationships, whereas working with Stauffer, the board and Nazara’s management group.

“Few founders have the chance to function CEO twice. I’ve had that privilege at Nazara,” Mittersain mentioned in his resignation letter.

He mentioned the corporate’s enlargement from an entrepreneurial gaming enterprise into a bigger worldwide platform meant it was the precise time to introduce a devoted CEO with world working expertise.

Nazara was based by Vikash and Nitish Mittersain in 1999.

Nitish Mittersain started his second stint as CEO on 1 December 2022, when Manish Agarwal stepped all the way down to pursue an entrepreneurial enterprise.

Stauffer is a former Google govt and the founder and CEO of Bluetile Video games, previously often called Playvalve, and BestPlay Programs. Stauffer additionally co-founded Cliqpod, a web-based platform providing instruments for fixing puzzles and phrase video games.

He graduated from the Autonomous College of Barcelona, holds a grasp’s diploma from the Complutense College of Madrid and has accomplished a enterprise programme in AI and machine studying on the Massachusetts Institute of Know-how.

Nazara mentioned he had constructed a portfolio of 17 informal and social video games with near 375 million lifetime downloads and about 22 million month-to-month lively customers.

His appointment comes as Nazara revises its proposed acquisition of Bluetile and BestPlay.

Nazara’s UK subsidiary initially agreed in March to amass 50% of the fairness in every enterprise for $100.3 million.

Below an amended construction introduced on 3 August, the corporate plans to amass full possession of each companies for a hard and fast, all-cash consideration of $303 million.

Nazara mentioned $89 million shall be paid when the transaction closes, with the remaining $214 million payable in agreed instalments by 1 April 2027. The deal stays topic to the completion of agreed closing necessities.

“Nazara has constructed a robust portfolio of worldwide gaming IPs and entrepreneurial companies,” Stauffer mentioned.

“My focus shall be to strengthen execution throughout product, AI, person acquisition and monetisation, whereas preserving entrepreneurial possession inside every enterprise,” he mentioned.

The leadership change comes as Nazara concentrates on its core gaming operations and seeks to construct a global platform spanning cellular gaming, PC and console publishing, esports and offline leisure.