Pete Vlastelica is exiting as Fox Sports executive VP of digital to become president and CEO of Major League Gaming, the eSports division of video-game giant Activision Blizzard.
Vlastelica, who officiallys start at Activision Blizzard on Oct. 3, will be tasked with growing the companys eSports broadcast, content and distribution business that revolves around video-game competitions as a spectator sport. He will be based at Activision Blizzards Santa Monica, Calif., headquarters and report to COO Thomas Tippl.
Pete is an entrepreneurial leader with a history of creating inspired content and developing new digital channels of distribution, Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick said in a statement. As we continue to build MLG into the premier eSports network, Pete will further our mission celebrating the accomplishments of gamers worldwide.
In January, Activision Blizzard announced the acquisition of MLG. That came after the company last fall established its eSports group, hiring Steve Bornstein, former CEO of ESPN and NFL Network, as chairman and MLG co-founder Mike Sepso as senior VP. Bornstein and Sepso will continue in their roles, with Sepso reporting to Vlastelica. MLGs primary operations will continue to be based in New York City.
