Rovio is seeing some changes as CEO Mikael Hed is stepping down after five years. Pekka Rantala, former CEO of Hartwall and an old Nokia executive, will replace Hed as the new chief of Rovio. The Finnish game developer is actually describing the change as "passing on the hoodie" as executives actually wear red hoodies to work.
Mikael Hed believes Pekka will be a great addition to Rovio.
"It has been an amazing ride and in the coming months I will be very happy to pass the hoodie to Pekka Rantala, who will take Rovio to the next level," Mikael Hed said.
"Pekka is known to be a great leader with experience building successful global consumer brands. I will continue to play an active role and will support Pekka in any way I can to ensure Rovio's continued success," Hed added.
Mikael Hed is not leaving Rovio but is only stepping aside. Hed will still be a big part of the company and will remain as Rovio Animation Studios' chairman. Hed was recently nominated for a board of directors post.
Hed will officially be replaced on January 1. 2015. He and Rantala will work together and make sure transition is smooth until the new CEO takes over.
The mobile phone app developer of the famous Angry Birds is said to be losing profits the past year. The app is still in the top 100 paid and free apps lists on iOS though.
Angry Birds used to be a top moneymaker for Rovio but profit has fallen to more than half. Merchandising and publishing proved to be good for the business but were not able to sustain the company the past months. Angry Birds are becoming less popular these days unlike before when merchandise of the famous birds can be seen everywhere.
Rovio has branched from games into other ventures like animation that's why the Rovio Animation Studios was started. Hed was the chosen one to lead that division.
Apart from Rantala taking over Hed and Hed leading the animation group, the games division will have a new executive VP in the person of Jami Laes. Laes is taking over former EVP Petri Jarvilehto who left Rovio to start a gaming startup called Seriously. Jarvilehto is working with another old Rovio executive Andre Stalbow.
