Motorsport Games is set to have a new CEO as Insider Gaming has confirmed that Dmitry Kozko is stepping down, effective immediately.
The announcement came Wednesday morning via email to Motorsport Games staff.
“Today, we announced a significant change for our company,” Kozko said. “Effective this morning, I will be stepping down as your CEO.”
He continued: “As I reflect on our journey together, I am filled with pride and gratitude for the incredible resilience and dedication each of you has demonstrated. From the highest of highs to the lowest of lows, we have persevered as a team, and it has been a true privilege to work with such an exceptionally talented group of individuals.”
“We would like to express our gratitude for Dmitry’s unwavering commitment and invaluable contributions to our company’s progress over the years,” a representative of Motorsport Games said to Insider Gaming.
“We are pleased to announce the appointment of Stephen Hood, our former President and an esteemed gaming industry veteran, as the new CEO of Motorsport Games. We have the utmost confidence in Stephen’s passion and expertise to lead our company to greater heights.”
Who Is The New Motorsport Games CEO?
In his place will be former President and now new CEO Stephen Hood.
Hood returns to Motorsport Games after serving as President of Motorsport Games from 2019 to February 2022. He left due to different philosophies regarding the state of the company, but returns just over a year later.
In his email to the company, Kozko stated that it was “essential to have a leader with extensive industry experience at the helm”, leading to Hood’s return.
“I have full confidence in his ability to drive Motorsport Games to new heights and make a significant impact,” he said.
“The opportunity to come back to the company I helped form was too hard to resist,” Hood said to Insider Gaming. “It’s important to seize this opportunity and move in the right direction for our partners, employees and fans of racing games.
“Without the support of those within the organization my return would not have been possible, and I’d like to thank everyone for their kind words. This will not be easy, and we have much to do, but challenges are there to be overcome. I’m excited to drive the business forward to the future.”
Despite stepping down as Motorsport Games CEO, Kozko will remain on as a member of the Board of Directors.
“In this capacity, I look forward to offering my support to Stephen and the entire team as we embark on this exciting new chapter,” he said in the email.
The news of Kozko’s departure as CEO comes as the company continues to report significant financial losses. In addition, it was recently confirmed that its upcoming IndyCar game would be pushed back to 2024 while NASCAR 2023 remains in flux.
Insider Gaming has reached out to Motorsport Games and new CEO Stephen Hood for comment. The story will be updated should a response be received.
