LONDON, UK: Keywords Studios, the international technical and creative services provider to the global video games industry, announced 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.”