Technology

Major Shake-Up at Bungie: Top Executives Depart Amid Strategic Overhaul

2024-12-23

Author: Lok

Bungie, renowned for its acclaimed franchise Destiny 2 and the highly anticipated Marathon, is undergoing a significant leadership transformation as both its Chief Strategy Officer and Chief Creative Officer step down. This restructuring comes in the wake of Bungie's ongoing integration into Sony PlayStation after its acquisition last year, leading to a flurry of changes within the company.

Over the past year, Bungie's organizational structure has been re-evaluated, resulting in several teams transitioning into prominent positions within PlayStation Studios. This focus is primarily on enhancing live-service games and intellectual property (IP) development. However, these transitions have also brought about notable downsizing, with the studio recently laying off 220 employees, reducing its workforce from a peak of 1,600 to around 850 employees.

In this latest wave of transitions, Ondraus Jenkins, who has served as Bungie’s Chief Strategy Officer for 16 years, has officially left the company, as indicated on his LinkedIn profile. Similarly, Jonny Ebbert, who has held the title of Chief Creative Officer for the past five years, also appears to have exited, according to updates on his social media profiles. Despite these departures, Bungie has yet to issue any formal announcements regarding these changes.

Alongside Jenkins and Ebbert, the studio has witnessed multiple C-suite exits. Chief Technology Officer Luis Villegas has transitioned to Sony, taking on the role of Head of Technology at PlayStation, while Chief Operating Officer Holly Barbacovi moved to Hasbro as Chief People Officer. Additionally, the former Chief Legal Officer Don McGowan was laid off earlier this year.

Here’s a glimpse of Bungie’s current and former executive team:

- Chief Executive Officer: Pete Parsons - Chief Development Officer: Justin Truman - Chief Technology Officer: Luis Villegas (now at PlayStation) - Chief Financial Officer: Danielle Porter - Chief Vision Officer: Jason Jones - Chief Strategy Officer: Ondraus Jenkins (departed October 2024) - Chief Creative Officer: Jonny Ebbert (departed October 2024) - Chief Operating/People Officer: Holly Barbacovi (departed July 2024 to join Hasbro) - Chief Legal Officer: Don McGowan (laid off October 2023)