North American gaming and esports company FaZe Clan has appointed Zach Katz as its President and Chief Operating Officer (COO).
Katz joins the company following tenures at music publisher BMG and music technology investment group Raised In Space.
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According to a release, Katz will oversee FaZe Clan’s content, talent, merchandise, consumer goods, sponsorships and esports businesses. In addition, he will work with the company’s leadership team to help expand its brand across the world.
The appointment is the first since the company unveiled its public Board of Directors in March. Members of the Board included FaZe Clan Co-founder and CEO Lee Trink, rapper Snoop Dogg, and Stephanie McMahon, the Chief Brand Officer at World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).
Trink spoke on the appointment in a release: “FaZe Clan sits at the intersection of gaming, creator economy and culture, all of which we believe is leading the growth of Web3. We are squarely focused on building the future and by adding Zach to our team, we are gaining a proven leader who has extensive experience in working with innovative, cultural brands.
“Through my long-standing relationship with Zach, I trust that he will help catapult our company into the next phase of growth, and bring operational excellence to FaZe as we become a public company.”
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In October 2021, FaZe Clan announced a merger with B.Riley Principal 150 Merger Corp (BRPM). Despite an amended filing to the SEC revealing details on the merger being submitted in April, the company expects the transaction to close by July.
Katz, the newly appointed COO and President, also commented: “Building on FaZe Clan’s leadership in youth culture, our goal is to further push the boundaries of gaming to drive innovation in entertainment. I can’t imagine a more exciting moment to join FaZe Clan’s passionate team and community.”
Esports Insider says: As FaZe Clan sets its sights on NASDAQ and expanding into other verticals, appointing Zach Katz as its President and COO is a smart move. Armed with decades of experience in the music industry, it will be interesting to see where the company heads next.