Ubisoft Names New Co-CEOs for Tencent-Backed Spinoff Company

Ubisoft has named Christophe Derennes and Charlie Guillemot as co-CEOs of its new spinoff company created with Chinese tech giant Tencent. The gaming company created this subsidiary after receiving a $1.25 billion cash investment from Tencent in March. The new company will focus on Ubisoft’s biggest game franchises: Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six.

Derennes is moving from his role as managing director for North America to take on the co-CEO position. Charlie Guillemot is the son of Ubisoft co-founder and current CEO Yves Guillemot. Through what Ubisoft called a “formal and competitive process,” the company chose Tencent to invest €1.16 billion ($1.25 billion) for a minority stake.

Ubisoft said in a statement that both new leaders bring “strong industry expertise, deep knowledge of the Ubisoft ecosystem, and a shared culture of innovation.”

CEO Yves Guillemot explained that Charlie and Christophe’s main jobs will be to “define the strategy and vision for the brands, create the right conditions for the teams to operate at the highest level, and ensure players remain at the heart of everything they do.”

When asked about concerns of nepotism due to his family connection, Charlie Guillemot acknowledged the issue directly. “I completely understand where it comes from, and I want to be clear about it. Yes, I’m Yves’ son. That’s not something I hide from,” he said.

However, he argued his appointment is based on more than family ties. “I’ve spent the last decade building experience both inside and outside Ubisoft, leading teams, managing brands, and navigating change in a fast-moving industry. I also made the conscious choice to step away when it made sense, to learn and grow elsewhere.”

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