ESL UK co-MD Spike Laurie leaves UK for global role

Dom Sacco, Senior Editor

Last Updated: 06/02/2017

ESL UK co-managing director Spike Laurie has left the UK for a new role in the US.
His position is now senior director, global publisher and developer relations at ESL, and he has relocated to Los Angeles, according to his LinkedIn profile.
Spike originally joined ESL back in September from Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment.
James Dean remains as the other co-MD of ESL UK, though it’s not clear at this stage if anyone is being brought in to replace Spike or if there will be a change in structure.
Spike is also co-chair of games industry trade body UKIE’s esports sub group, and was recently named a Sports Industry NextGen young leader, along with Fnatic’s Patrik “cArn” Sättermon.

Spot the esports executive! @ESL‘s @spikesaysyeah recognised as part of the Sport Industry NextGen leader programme #SINEXTGEN pic.twitter.com/prYANuRbVV

— Esports News UK (@Esports_News_UK) 2 February 2017

Dom Sacco, Senior Editor

Dom is an award-winning writer and finalist of the Esports Journalist of the Year 2023 award. He has almost two decades of experience in journalism, and left Esports News UK in June 2025. As a long-time gamer having first picked up the NES controller in the late '80s, he has written for a range of publications including GamesTM, Nintendo Official Magazine, industry publication MCV and others. He also previously worked as head of content for the British Esports Federation.

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