Update (February 1st 2022): Kieran has joined Formula E as its new gaming director.
He said: “For me, being able to bring my expertise into the sporting world is an absolute dream. Formula E are so incredibly well-placed to capitalise on the blending of the physical and digital worlds and I am thrilled to be able to bring gamified experiences to motorsport fans!”
Original article (January 7th 2022):
Kieran Holmes-Darby, one of the co-founders of UK-based organisation Excel Esports, has departed the company today.
He leaves Excel in a good position as one of the UK’s biggest and most well-known esports organisations, with a place in the League of Legends LEC and top pro players in the likes of Fortnite, FIFA and Valorant.
Kieran posted a heartfelt farewell video message to mark his departure.
Kieran said: “I will no longer be an employee at Excel and will not be involved in the day-to-day operations of the brand.
“As of today, I don’t know what my ongoing relationship with the Excel brand will look like as that depends on a few things, but expect some official communication on that in due course.
“All that’s left to say for now is thank you.”
Today’s news means that both of Excel’s original co-founders – Kieran and his brother Joel Holmes-Darby – are no longer with the organisation.
In October 2020, Kieran’s brother and fellow Excel Esports co-founder, Joel Holmes-Darby, left the organisation, before joining Method for a ten-month stint. Last October Joel left Method to become a full-time dad and finish his degree in cybersecurity.
Joel did say on Twitter that he and Kieran may reunite for a new venture in the future:
Today’s news comes three months after Tim Reichert was appointed as the new esports director at Excel Esports, with Kieran Holmes-Darby’s job role changing from esports director to co-founder. Esports News UK understands Kieran may have been on gardening leave over the past few months before today’s announcement.
Kieran also took the time to thank his brother and the staff at Excel, and ran through some of the achievements Excel have made over the years.
People took the time to offer their farewells and praise the Holmes-Darby brothers on Twitter.
Josh Furneaux, former Excel coach, said: “[Kieran] became way more than just a great boss, a top man and a great friend. The old times at Excel were among my best in esports. Sad to see the final piece of OG exceL depart but the memories will live forever.”
Yesterday, Excel Esports former social media manager Nathan Edmonds announced he had joined UK-based gaming jobs platform Hitmarker as head of community and marketing.
Kieran and Joel had sold large parts of Excel over the years to raise funds and grow the business, but in doing so, lost direct control of it. Whatever’s next for them, Excel will always be a part of their legacy, and they’ve shown the rest of the UK esports industry that you can build something successful – from scratch – with the right vision and work ethic.
Dom is an award-winning writer and finalist of the Esports Journalist of the Year 2023 award. He graduated from Bournemouth University with a 2:1 degree in Multi-Media Journalism in 2007.
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 worked as head of content for the British Esports Federation up until February 2021, when he stepped back to work full-time on Esports News UK and offer esports consultancy and freelance services. Note: Dom still produces the British Esports newsletter on a freelance basis, so our coverage of British Esports is always kept simple – usually just covering the occasional press release – because of this conflict of interest.
