After 4 and a half years at the head of Evil Geniuses, CEO Nicole LaPointe Jameson is stepping down from her role as CEO.
— Evil Geniuses (@EvilGeniuses) August 31, 2023
Evil Geniuses has released a shocking statement from CEO Nicole LaPointe Jameson, announcing that she is stepping down from her position as CEO. Her last day at the company will be sometime next month. The news comes less than a week after Evil Geniuses hoisted up the trophy of VCT 2023 Champions.
From Questionable Future to Solidified Powerhouse
Installed in mid-2019 by PEAK 6 Investments (For whom she previously worked) after they acquired Evil Geniuses, Nicole has had a storied history as the head of Evil Geniuses. Coming into an organization that had been in a slump period, Nicole not only turned it around for Evil Geniuses but turned the organization into an NA Esports powerhouse.
✅ 11 Straight Wins
🧹 3 Straight Sweeps
⏲ Fastest Finals of All-TimeThere was no doubt. 2022 #LCS Spring Champions pic.twitter.com/q6K0ahpkHP
— Evil Geniuses (@EvilGeniuses) April 25, 2022
In 2019, Evil Geniuses acquired the franchise slot of Echo Fox and rejoined the League of Legends scene for the first time in over five years. Since then, they have been strong LCS competitors, with consistent top-sixth seasonal placements. Last year, EG achieved its greatness accomplishment so far, with a 1st place finish at LCS Spring 2022.
In 2020, Nicole revived Evil Geniuses’ Counter-Strike team after a more than seven-year absence by acquiring NRG’s Counter-Strike roster. The team saw immediate success, with numerous toppings at tournaments like the BLAST Premier: Spring 2020 American Finals and ESL One: Cologne 2020 Online – North America.
Also, in 2020, Evil Geniuses signed Sonic Fox, one of the most dominant fighting game players ever, cementing a firm foothold in the fighting game scene.
2020 was a busy year for Evil Geniuses as they also took that time to start the Genius League, an initiative dedicated to youth development. Genius League helps prepare them as they transition into adult life, seeking work for themselves, and opens up collegiate Esports avenues that were previously impossible. A demonstrably effective program, an impressive 70% of Genius League alumni graduate with a full-time job.
EG’s Valorant Gambles Paid Off
While Evil Geniuses has secured four franchise spots in four different Esports, Valorant is quickly becoming its strongest avenue. And that wouldn’t have been possible without some daring moves by Nicole.
Under Nicole, Evil Geniuses made the bold move of fielding a mixed-gender Valorant roster in 2021. That roster included team captain Christine Chi, who at the time was past the age that most people consider an Esports pro’s prime (Valorant’s pro scene largely consists of pros in their mid-late teens and early 20s). Chi would prove everyone wrong and later go on to coach EG’s Valorant roster to the organization’s most amazing recent achievement.
WELCOME TO THE VILLAIN ERA OF VALORANT.
WE ARE YOUR 2023 VCT CHAMPIONS! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/aeZFLdEIi6
— Evil Geniuses (@EvilGeniuses) August 26, 2023
After an incredibly shaky start to VCT 2023, Evil Geniuses turned it around in mid-2023 with a 3rd-place finish in the American League, followed shortly with a 2nd-place finish at VCT 2023: Master Tokyo. Finally, Evil Geniuses ended the season on a high note, defeating Paper Rex 3-1 at VCT 2023 Masters, becoming the year’s Grand Champions.
An Ingenious Social Media Campaign
Nicole also took Evil Geniuses’ social media presence to the next level and then a few more, with EG going from around 100K views to over 50 million across all socials. Under her leadership, EG’s social media following across the web has eclipsed 14 million. EG’s employee count blossomed to over 200 as Evil Geniuses established more presence in various places worldwide.
The Future of Evil Geniuses
In the social media post confirming her stepping down, Nicole announced that Chris DeAppolonio will serve as interim CEO of Evil Geniuses. Formerly President of the Houston Outlaws and Executive Vice President of Partnerships for Infinite Esports & Entertainment, Chris joined Evil Geniuses in August 2020 as Chief Innovation Officer to expand EG’s reach.
Before Nicole stepped into the role of CEO, Evil Geniuses’ future was uncertain at best. Four and a half years later, it’s one of the most recognizable Esports organizations in the world, and also one of the oldest. A job well done, to say the least.
Best of luck to Nicole on her future endeavors.