Riot’s new president has worked in industries across sports, lifestyle, and culture.
Riot Games, the developer of League of Legends, League of Legends: Wild Rift, VALORANT, TeamFight Tactics, 2XKO, and more has appointed Hoby Darling as the new president for the company. The announcement was made on Tuesday (22 April) via a post on the company’s website.
Darling will fill the vacuum that current CEO A. Dylan Jadeja left, once he shifted to become the company’s CEO.
Speaking on the appointment, Jadeja praised Darling’s background and approach, saying, “Hoby has spent his career at companies that serve the most passionate communities there are, from sports to gaming and beyond. He knows how to bring out the best in teams, and he’ll help Rioters tap into their creativity, sharpen their focus, and channel their competitive fire.” Jadeja also highlighted the importance of leadership that nurtures creativity, noting that Darling "will challenge us to keep raising the bar for each other and for players."
Darling, in turn, expressed his enthusiasm for joining Riot, sharing that the company’s unique culture was immediately clear to him. “The first time I walked into Riot, I felt a scrappy, soulful, and courageous energy I knew I needed to be a part of,” he said. He praised Riot’s willingness to take risks and stay true to its mission, adding, “There’s something special about a place that takes risks, challenges convention, and stays fiercely committed to its mission.”
He emphasised the studio’s player-first mindset and its commitment to meaningful experiences: “Riot has a long history of creating experiences that truly matter to players, and I couldn’t be more excited to work alongside passionate Rioters who push each other to do their best work every day.”
In his role as President, Darling will collaborate with teams across Riot to help unlock bold creativity, empower teams, and further the company's dedication to serving players worldwide.
Who is Hoby Darling?
Before joining Riot Games, Hoby Darling held senior leadership roles at Logitech, Skullcandy/Astro Gaming, Nike, and Volcom.
According to Riot’s official announcement, Darling’s achievements span several industries and leadership positions. At Logitech, he was part of the global executive team, where he led multiple portfolio companies and co-founded a new division focused on esports athletes, content creators, and the future of play.
During his time at Nike, he contributed to shaping the future of sport across both physical and digital spaces. His work included athlete-led innovation and collaboration with Nike-affiliated brands such as Converse and Cole Haan.
As CEO of Skullcandy and Astro Gaming, he brought together gaming, music, art, and action sports, while expanding Astro into a global leader in premium gaming gear. At Volcom, he played a role in growing the skate, snow, and surf-focused brand into a broader lifestyle label with global reach.
Darling also served on the Board of Directors at Fitlab, a hybrid fitness and sports lifestyle company, where he advised on performance-focused trends and operations bridging digital and real-world environments.
He remains a co-founder and partner at The Liminal Collective, a global team of performance experts who deliver tailored solutions across leadership, talent development, and organisational strategy. The group uses data and its proprietary Elite Performance Model to help clients reach their highest potential.
In addition, he currently sits on the Board of Directors for Youth Enrichment Brands (YEB), a network offering sports, academic, arts, and music programmes to over one million children each year. YEB operates across 1,000 locations in all 50 US states and 20 countries worldwide.
According to the company website, Darling is a fan of classic games like The Legend of Zelda and Mortal Kombat so it’s no surprise he said that he is “stoked for 2XKO”.
