Founder Nitish Mittersain will move into the role of Executive Chairman as the company expands globally.
Nazara Technologies has appointed gaming entrepreneur and former Google executive Raymond A. Stauffer as its new Chief Executive Officer, marking a significant leadership transition as the company accelerates its global expansion strategy.
Founder Nitish Mittersain will step down as CEO and assume the role of Executive Chairman, focusing on long-term strategy, acquisitions, and strategic partnerships while remaining the company’s Managing Director.
The leadership change is scheduled to take effect on September 1, 2026, subject to regulatory and statutory approvals.
Raymond Stauffer to Lead Day-to-Day Operations
As CEO, Stauffer will oversee Nazara’s global operations, portfolio integration, and business performance across its gaming businesses.
He will also lead the company’s shared capabilities, including:
- Product development
- Artificial intelligence (AI)
- Data and analytics
- User acquisition
- Monetization strategies
His appointment reflects Nazara’s growing focus on building a globally integrated gaming platform while strengthening execution across its expanding portfolio.
Nitish Mittersain Moves Into Executive Chairman Role
Mittersain said the company’s transformation into an international gaming platform made it the right time to appoint a CEO with extensive global operating experience.
“Few founders have the opportunity to serve as CEO twice. I have had that privilege at Nazara,” Mittersain said in his resignation letter.
As Executive Chairman, he will concentrate on:
- Long-term corporate strategy
- Portfolio expansion
- Strategic partnerships
- Investor and stakeholder relationships
- Supporting the board and leadership team
Mittersain will continue serving as Managing Director after stepping down as CEO.
A Leadership Transition Years in the Making
Nazara Technologies was founded in 1999 by brothers Nitish Mittersain and Vikash Mittersain.
This marks the end of Mittersain’s second tenure as CEO, which began in December 2022 after former CEO Manish Agarwal resigned to pursue entrepreneurial opportunities.
Under his leadership, Nazara strengthened its gaming portfolio through acquisitions and expanded its international presence.
Who Is Raymond Stauffer?
Stauffer brings extensive experience in gaming, technology, and artificial intelligence.
He previously worked at Google and later founded Bluetile Games (formerly Playvalve) and BestPlay Systems. He also co-founded Cliqpod, a platform designed for puzzle and word-game enthusiasts.
According to Nazara, the gaming portfolio developed under his leadership includes:
- 17 casual and social games
- Nearly 375 million lifetime downloads
- Around 22 million monthly active users
Academically, Stauffer graduated from the Autonomous University of Barcelona, earned a master’s degree from the Complutense University of Madrid, and completed a business program in AI and machine learning at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Leadership Change Coincides With Major Acquisition
Stauffer’s appointment comes alongside Nazara’s revised acquisition of Bluetile Games and BestPlay.
The company has amended its earlier agreement and now plans to acquire 100% ownership of both businesses for $303 million in cash.
Under the revised structure:
- $89 million will be paid at closing.
- The remaining $214 million will be paid in agreed installments by April 1, 2027.
The transaction remains subject to customary closing conditions.
Stauffer Outlines His Vision
Commenting on his appointment, Stauffer said he intends to strengthen execution while preserving the entrepreneurial culture across Nazara’s businesses.
“Nazara has built a strong portfolio of global gaming IPs and entrepreneurial businesses. My focus will be to strengthen execution across product, AI, user acquisition, and monetization, while preserving entrepreneurial ownership within each business,” he said.
Nazara’s Global Growth Strategy
The leadership transition reflects Nazara’s ambition to evolve into a larger international gaming company spanning multiple segments, including mobile gaming, PC and console publishing, esports, and offline entertainment.
With Mittersain focusing on strategic direction and Stauffer leading day-to-day execution, the company is positioning itself for its next phase of global expansion while continuing to invest in acquisitions, gaming intellectual property, and AI-driven product innovation.
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Photo: Raymond Stauffer and Nitish Mittersain
