Misfits Gaming Group Welcomes New Senior Hires

After securing $35M in funding, Misfits Gaming Group (MGG) is welcoming three senior executives as the company restructures towards a media enterprise. The three roles will prepare the company for aggressive investments in marketing, staff and overall operations.

Youth marketing veteran and former Activision Blizzard executive, Steve Brauntuch joins MGG as the organisation’s first chief marketing officer. Operating and staff executive, Candace Rhymer is now the company’s first chief people officer, focused on scaling and implementing the internal practices required for healthy team expansion. Award-winning strategist Alyson Schefren also joins MGG as its new vice president of integrated marketing for the sales team after years serving as a marketing consultant. All three senior executives will lead Misfits’ efforts to accelerate growth and align the company towards producing, distributing and monetising original programming.

“Steve, Candace, and Alyson will be critical in Misfits’ evolution from an esports org to a media enterprise. As we apply the considerable resources available to reimagine our business, I’m thrilled to partner with these talented senior leaders to tell our story and ensure we remain a person-first organization,” Ben Spoont, CEO and co-founder of Misfits Gaming Group, said.

In late September 2021, the nation’s fourth-largest broadcaster, E.W. Scripps, led a $35M funding round that will materially refocus the business away from the brutal reality of competitive gaming’s wins and losses. The company will now evolve into a media enterprise that elevates the stories behind the teams to deliver a slate of new programming. Through its partnership with Scripps, MGG will develop new, long-form series for traditional and OTT television audiences. The company’s new marketing team will ensure its story of transition is shared transparently, and Rhymer will help establish the talent programmes necessary to carefully nurture performance.

“As one of gaming’s most visible and diversified brands, Misfits has a real opportunity to not only maintain an active conversation with our existing community but substantially grow our audience with original content and programming. Reimagining modern esports into a media business is a real challenge that I’m excited to tackle alongside Misfits leadership,” Steve Brauntuch said.