26 October 2022

Keywords Studios plc

("Keywords Studios", "Keywords", the "Group")

Appointment of Chief Operating Officer Designate

Keywords Studios, the international technical and creative services provider to the global video games industry, is pleased to announce that Keywords' Chief Financial Officer ("CFO"), Jon Hauck, will be appointed as the Group's Chief Operating Officer ("COO") following the appointment of a successor CFO and a transition period. This appointment re-establishes the COO role and will support the long-term growth and strategic priorities of the business.

The Board will now lead a comprehensive process to identify a suitable candidate for the CFO role. Jon will continue in his current role as the Group's CFO until his successor is appointed and will ensure a smooth transition of his responsibilities before moving to his new role as COO. Jon will also remain on the Board in his new role.

As COO, Jon will have responsibility for overseeing the strategy, growth and performance of each of the service lines (Create, Globalize and Engage), whilst continuing to lead on the execution of the Group's M&A strategy. 

Jon joined Keywords as CFO in 2019 and, in addition to his finance responsibilities, has been acting as interim COO since March 2022 giving him significant oversight and experience across the Group's operations.

Commenting on the news, Bertrand Bodson, CEO said:

"I am delighted that Jon has agreed to take on this new role. He has been an exceptional CFO since he joined over three years ago and, in that time, has developed a deep knowledge of the business, having acted as both interim CEO and interim COO in recent times while continuing in his existing role.

"We have worked very closely over the past year to set the new strategy for Keywords, and this will enable Jon to focus on the operational performance of the business and the M&A strategy whilst strengthening our executive team with the addition of a new CFO. I look forward to continuing to work with him to deliver the next phase of the Group's strategy."

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About Keywords Studios (www.keywordsstudios.com)

Keywords Studios is an international technical and creative services provider to the global video games industry. Established in 1998, and now with over 70 facilities in 26 countries strategically located in Asia, Australia, the Americas and Europe, it provides integrated art creation, game development, testing, localization, audio, marketing and player support services across more than 50 languages and 16 games platforms to a blue-chip client base of over 950 clients across the globe.

Keywords Studios has a strong market position, providing services to 23 of the top 25 most prominent games companies. Across the games and entertainment industry, clients include Activision Blizzard, Bandai Namco, Bethesda, Electronic Arts, Epic Games, Konami, Microsoft, Netflix, Riot Games, Square Enix, Supercell, TakeTwo, Tencent and Ubisoft. Recent titles worked on include Anthem, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Valorant, League of Legends, Fortnite, Clash Royale and Doom Eternal. Keywords Studios is listed on AIM, the London Stock Exchange regulated market (KWS.L).