Electronic Arts, Codemasters, it’s only been four months, but the first serious breakup is about to happen in the studio. Codemasters CEO; Frank Sagnier and CFO; and Rashid Varachia will leave Codemasters at the end of this month.
An EA spokesman said the separations were “part of the plan” but had not been brought up so far because of the speed with which Codemasters was integrated into EA studios.
Andrew Wilson, CEO of Electronic Arts, said their goal was not to take over Codemasters or turn it into another Electronic Arts studio, but to seize the opportunity. However, the credibility of the rhetoric of “protecting its identity” is also controversial in the wake of such news.
Both Codemasters and Slightly Mad (Project Cars) will be placed under the EA Sports umbrella. Slighlty Mad will continue to be led by CEO Ian Bell, while Clive Moody, Codemasters’ vice president of product development, and Jonathan Bunney, vice president of publishing, will head the studio.
“Frank and Rashid; e We are grateful for everything they have done for Codemasters and Electronic Arts and send them our best wishes. The culture and innovative spirits they have created will continue to live in the studio,” says EA.
