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Odgers Berndtson: Annual income of esports top management can reach $170 000

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Odgers Berndtson: Annual income of esports top management can reach $170 000
Odgers Berndtson: Annual income of esports top management can reach $170 000Reading Time: 4 minutes

 

Headhunters are often among the first to identify trends, thereby making them the people who come to find the best managers.

The esports market has also followed this trend. Since 2015, we have seen the formation of a new large-scale industry. Initially the clubs and teams looked like a group of niche enthusiasts without any built-up system, wishing to attract 1-2 professionals from the corporate world. Today the industry looks as a full-fledged ecosystem of the largest clubs, companies and holdings. Each of them has its own staff, corporate structure and Leadership Team. However, there is very little systematized information about the internal structure of cybersports, such as what the clubs have in common or what is the salary market like, although the transparency of an industry is one of the most important factors in its growth and development.

Odgers Berndtson has interviewed twenty top club managers around the world – from North America to Oceania, including Western Europe, Russia and the CIS countries. The results of this study will be useful for all market participants: clubs to compare themselves with competitors, investors who want to enter the esports market, professionals who want to work in the industry, and for fans who are interested in understanding what’s behind their favorite players.

Organisational structures

During interviews with representatives of esports clubs, we have identified 2 main management models (each of them can be subdivided into 2 subcategories):

The first model is a business structure with traditional key functions inside: Sales, Operations, HR, Finance, etc., which report to the CEO. These structures follow the classic organisational model from the corporate world. 81% of the clubs we surveyed have this type of organisational structure.

The remaining 19% of clubs have only two key managers – CEO (Chief Executive Officer) and COO (Chief Operating Officer), who share areas of responsibility among themselves. The most common configuration is when one manager develops such functions as Sales, Marketing and Gaming, and the another one is responsible for the back-office (accounting, finance, etc.). In 50 % of these companies the club outsources the functions of sales and marketing, and the rest have these functions (including sales and marketing) implemented internally.

Sports management

The main resource of the esports business are players, teams, and sports results. Nowadays, clubs use 2 main models of sports management. 57% of clubs have a Sports Director / Chief Gaming Officer who is responsible for team management and sports performance. In the remaining 43%, this function is linked with one of the top managers of the club (CEO / COO). The main factor in both approaches is the CEO / COO’s personal professional gaming experience.

Compensation packages

After we have gathered and systemized all data of compensation packages in the clubs, we saw a big difference in absolute values (up to 10 times). This is due to the different living standards in the regions where esports clubs are present. To present the relevant average earnings in key positions, we removed 10% of the minimum and maximum values.

Annual income:  

•           CEO – from $ 70,000 to $ 170,000 gross;

•           COO – from $ 50,000 to $ 160,000 $ gross;

•           CCO (Sales, Partnerships, Sponsorships) / CMO (Content, Marketing, PR) – from $ 50,000 to $ 150,000 gross;

•           HRD / CFO / CIO / Legal Director – from $ 40,000 to $ 120,000 gross.

Compensation packages insights

Over the past 1.5-2 years, the structure of compensation packages has changed towards a form similar to other industries – a fixed part and a bonus (the amount of which depends on the KPIs fulfillment). It is important to note that about 40% of top clubs stimulate their top team with long-term incentives (LTI).

The main KPIs for top management are operational: P&L performance, growth number of subscribers on social networks and active fans, views of matches / team content, users retention, and attraction of partners.

Most of Chief Gaming Officer and the CEO have sports results reflected in KPIs. This distinguishes esports managers from colleagues who manage clubs in traditional sports, where in most cases the entire team of top managers has an additional bonus from the team’s athletic performance.

Market trends

•           An esports club is no longer just a collection of players who play for themselves or their investor. It is a full-fledged business with media and commercial parts. Esports has become a valuable part of the entertainment market;

•           The staff ranges from 18 to 75 people. Only 21% of the organizations we had surveyed have more than 50 employees. Esports clubs, unlike traditional sports teams, still have compact structures;

•           Esports companies are becoming increasingly mature and open toward external markets. They hire people having no professional gaming experience, invite business consultants to tackle recruitment tasks, draft strategy and move the club forward;

•           Proper P&L management is a short- or mid-term task for 75% of top clubs;

•           Employment’s agreements with athletes have changed:

– KPIs for sports results now included

– employment contracts became long-term;

– the club’s share has increased in the prize money from tournaments.

About the study:

Odgers Berndtson is one of the largest international consulting companies with a focus on top executive search, assessment and development. Odgers Berndtson is the only executive search company with a dedicated Global Gaming Practice. The practice specialises on recruiting executive teams for the gaming and esports industries.
Authors: Leonid Koen, Andrey Salitov.


Source: Latest News on European Gaming Media Network
This is a Syndicated News piece. Photo credits or photo sources can be found on the source article: Odgers Berndtson: Annual income of esports top management can reach 0 000

George Miller (Gyorgy Molnar) started his career in content marketing and has started working as an Editor/Content Manager for our company in 2016. George has acquired many experiences when it comes to interviews and newsworthy content becoming Head of Content in 2017. He is responsible for the news being shared on multiple websites that are part of the European Gaming Media Network.

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Flutter Entertainment named as headline sponsor of ICE Sustainable Gambling Zone

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Clarion Gaming has announced that Flutter Entertainment, the parent company of the world’s leading online sports betting and iGaming operator, will be the headline sponsor of the Sustainable Gambling Zone (SGZ) at ICE Barcelona, the world’s biggest gambling technology exhibition which will be attended by 55,000 gambling industry professionals.

Flutter, which has been a long-term supporter of Clarion Gaming’s safer gambling undertakings, is also making a donation to ICE Barcelona’s safer gambling charity fund as well as having its own stand to showcase how Flutter is changing the game for good by providing education, tools and support to help everyone Play Well, on the SGZ.

In 2022 Flutter introduced its Play Well strategy to support its customers in making informed choices and managing their betting and play responsibly. Flutter set itself the target of having 75% of active online customers using a Play Well tool by 2030. By the end of Q2 this year (2024), 47.5% of customers were already engaged with these tools – double from FY 2022 – marking steady progress towards our goal. This effort has been supported by a significant investment – over $101m in 2023 – in research, product development and marketing.

Ewa Bakun, Clarion Gaming’s Director of Industry Insight and the person responsible for introducing the Consumer Protection Zone to the ICE show floor in 2018 said: “I am absolutely delighted to be able to confirm Flutter as our headline sponsor. I regard this as being a game-changer for SGZ which is being officially launched in Barcelona after undergoing a re-brand. The rebranding to the Sustainable Gambling Zone, which was a decision taken in partnership with our industry stakeholders reflects a deeper understanding of the importance of early interaction. By focusing on the identification of potential risks earlier in the player journey, it’s possible to prevent harm before it escalates.”

Jane Palles, Group Head of Safer Gambling, Flutter added: “Our customers are at the heart of everything we do, and we want them to have an entertaining, positive experience with us. We start 2025 with a continued focus on player wellbeing. This sponsorship underscores our dedication to sustainability”.

“Play Well focuses on fostering a positive and responsible gaming environment, with initiatives like enhanced customer tools, personalized risk monitoring, and partnerships with expert organizations.

“We are delighted to be supporting the new Sustainable Gambling Zone at ICE Barcelona and will showcase our continued efforts, share insights, and collaborate with stakeholders to drive forward the shared mission of safer gambling for all.”

The 2025 ICE Sustainable Gambling Zone will occupy 490sqm of space and located in the Fast Forward area of the showfloor, underlining the importance the industry places on sustainability and player protection. As well as featuring a total of 26 safer gambling bodies including Spanish organisations ASENCAS and FEJAR the SGZ will host three days of educational content including two dedicated to consumer protection and one to ESG.

 

The post Flutter Entertainment named as headline sponsor of ICE Sustainable Gambling Zone appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Slots Capital Casino Unwraps 30 Free Spins on Souls of the Dead Slot for Players

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The post Slots Capital Casino Unwraps 30 Free Spins on Souls of the Dead Slot for Players appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Massive Gaming, Neowiz, and Kangwon Land Launched ‘Shen Shou Wan fu’ Slot Machine Offline

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  • ‘Shen Shou Wan fu’ is an online slot game that features three powerful guardians, symbolizing immense wealt
  • Now available as physical slot machines in offline casinos through a collaboration with Kangwon Land
  • MVG plans to expand distribution with exclusive B2B rights to online channels for slot games

Massive Gaming(“MVG”) announced that it has launched the ‘Shen Shou Wan fu (神兽万福)’ slot game, co-developed with Neowiz, MVG’s parent company, and Kangwon Land, which hosts the only casino in South Korea open to locals. The game is now available in offline venues as slot machines.

 

 

‘Shen Shou Wan fu’ is an online slot game featuring motifs of the Golden Dragon (JIN LONG), Phoenix (FENGHUANG), and Haetae (XIEZHI), which symbolize luck and prosperity.

The slot machine debuted in offline casino venues. Key personnel from MVG and Neowiz worked closely on the art resources and software design of ‘Shen Shou Wan fu’, ensuring a seamless integration of creative and technical expertise. Kangwon Land managed the slot machine’s hardware design and manufacturing. This launch marks the first commercialization of software-based products through public-private collaboration in South Korea’s casino market.

After successfully establishing ‘Shen Shou Wan fu’ in the Korean market, MVG is ready to leverage this success for aggressive global sales. Holding exclusive rights to the slot game, MVG plans to expand its presence in the regulated gaming market by targeting key regions with strategic marketing and distribution.

A representative stated, “We are pleased to showcase our slot game in offline casinos with Kangwon Land,” adding plans to introduce diverse content for global markets.

 

The post Massive Gaming, Neowiz, and Kangwon Land Launched ‘Shen Shou Wan fu’ Slot Machine Offline appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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