Milestone Appoints New General Manager

A couple of days ago, shortly before the release of MotoGP, Milestone announced that the former manager of Italy for PLAION was moved into a role as General Manager for the company. Both PLAION and Milestone are owned by Embracer, and have been shuffling around debt and organizing cost savings with layoffs for months. I’m frankly not sure if this was another restructuring effort or whether Luisa Bixio should be worried, but the loss of licensing for MXGP and Monster Energy Supercross, followed by a terrible SBK 22 does make me wonder how things are feeling inside the studio.

Press release:

MILESTONE STRENGTHENS ITS EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT TEAM
Umberto Bettini, former Country Manager of PLAION Italy, has been appointed General Manager of Milestone. He will report directly to the CEO Luisa Bixio
​​​​​Oscar Del Moral, former Managing Director for Spain & Portugal at PLAION, assumes an expanded role as Head of Southern European Region

Milan, Italy, April 29, 2024 – PLAION, a leading independent developer and producer of games and entertainment products, and its Italian subsidiary Milestone, one of the leading and longest-established racing game developers in the world, today announced significant changes to their organizational structure and key executive promotions.

As of today, Umberto Bettini has been appointed General Manager of Milestone, reporting directly to the CEO Luisa Bixio. Former Country Manager of PLAION Italy, the 53-year-old manager boasts a multi-decade experience in the entertainment industry and will oversee all aspects of Milestone’s operations, including game development, publishing, and business strategy, as the company continues to innovate and expand its portfolio.

“I am honored to join Milestone as General Manager and lead this talented team of professionals,” said Umberto Bettini. “Milestone has a rich history of delivering the best racing games, and I am excited to build upon that legacy as we chart the course for the future. Together, we will continue to push the boundaries of gaming entertainment and deliver unforgettable experiences for players around the world.”

Luisa Bixio, CEO of Milestone, expressed her confidence in the new appointment, stating, “I am delighted to welcome Umberto to Milestone as our new General Manager. The introduction of such a role, which until now was not present in our organizational chart, testifies to the confidence we have in our growth potential and the bright future ahead of this company. Umberto’s proven leadership and track record of driving growth make him the perfect fit and I look forward to working closely with him as Milestone is poised for continued success and innovation in the years to come.”

Following Bettini’s appointment, Luigi Colamusso, former Commercial Director for Games & Distribution at PLAION Italy, takes up the position of Country Manager of PLAION Italy, whereas Oscar Del Moral, former Managing Director for Spain & Portugal at PLAION, assumes an expanded role within the Group as Head of Southern European Region, responsible for driving business operations, growth, and initiatives in the Southern European market encompassing Spain, Portugal, and Italy. “I am excited to embark on this new challenge, it’s an exciting opportunity to further drive our Group’s expansion across this dynamic region” – he commented – “I’m ready to bring my solid background within the industry and look forward to collaborating with our talented teams in Italy to elevate PLAION’s presence in the entertainment landscape of Southern Europe.”

Klemens Kundratitz, CEO of PLAION, commented on the appointment: “Starting today, Oscar will play an even more pivotal role within our organization. The outstanding achievements he granted leading operations in the Iberian market for the past 8 years show his value and why he is the ideal choice for this critical position. Under Oscar’s guidance, we are confident that PLAION will further solidify its position in Italy”.

About Milestone
Founded in Milan in 1996, Milestone S.r.l. is one of the leading and longest-established racing game developers in the world. The 290+ people team is responsible for hit series like MotoGP™, MXGP, and Monster Energy Supercross – The Official Videogame, the acclaimed Hot Wheels™ Unleashed, as well as own IPs RIDE and Gravel. For more information please visit https://milestone.it/

About PLAION
PLAION is a dynamic and diversified business in the global entertainment sector, masterfully crafting franchises that captivate audiences worldwide. Boasting a vast network of eight game development studios, sixteen regional publishing offices, three game publishing labels including Deep Silver, and PLAION PICTURES as an independent film publisher and distributor, the company extends its influence with merchandise production and expansive distribution capabilities across the globe.

Founded nearly three decades ago, PLAION has firmly established itself within the entertainment arena. With a diverse range of services and solutions, PLAION stands as the premier publishing partner for console and PC games across both physical and digital channels. Moreover, its strong foothold in the Virtual Reality (VR) domain highlights the company’s commitment to varied gaming experiences.

PLAION is an Embracer Group company.