Listed games studio and publisher, Team17, is pleased to announce the appointment of Frank Sagnier as its next non-executive chair. Sagnier will succeed Chris Bell, who has been with the company since its successful IPO in 2018. Bell will step down from his role at the end of the year to focus on his other business interests. Until his departure, Bell will continue to fulfill his duties, allowing for a smooth transition to Sagnier’s leadership.
Sagnier brings over 25 years of gaming sector experience to the board, having held PLC, private equity, and senior roles with Codemasters, Electronic Arts, Acclaim Entertainment, Double Fusion, and Funcom. He began his career in advertising at Grey before moving on to marketing positions at Warner Bros Entertainment and Acclaim Entertainment. In 1999, he joined Electronic Arts (EA), where he was responsible for marketing and third-party game development and publishing across Europe.
During his tenure as CEO of Codemasters from 2014, Sagnier led the transformation and restructuring of the business, establishing it as one of the most renowned racing game development studios and publishers of the F1 racing brand. Under his leadership, Codemasters experienced a successful IPO in 2018. Recently, Codemasters was acquired by EA in a deal worth $1.2 billion in 2021.
As the non-executive chair, Sagnier will chair the nomination committee and be a member of the audit and remuneration committees.
CEO Debbie Bestwick MBE expressed her gratitude towards Chris Bell for his exceptional support and guidance throughout his time as chair and acknowledged the significant financial and operational growth under his leadership. She extended a warm welcome to Frank Sagnier, highlighting his global reputation as a highly respected gaming executive and his extensive knowledge and experience in the gaming world. Bestwick also praised Sagnier’s M&A experience, emphasizing the value it will bring to the board.
In response, Sagnier expressed his admiration for Bestwick’s accomplishments in building Team17 and creating significant shareholder value over the years. He commended her leadership and the strong team she has assembled to scale the company. Sagnier looks forward to working with the executive team, the board, and shareholders to further strengthen Team17’s foundations and achieve its strategic ambitions.
Overall, Team17 is confident that Sagnier’s appointment as non-executive chair will contribute to the company’s continued success in delivering exceptional games for players and solid returns for shareholders.
