Misfits Gaming Group Welcomes First CMO,
First Chief People Officer and New VP of Integrated Marketing as it Scales to Reimagine the Business
Digital Marketing Veteran Steve Brauntuch, Operations Executive Candace Rhymer, and Senior Strategist Alyson Schefren Join Leading Esports Organization
After securing $35M in funding, Misfits Gaming Group (MGG) is welcoming three senior executives as the company restructures towards a media enterprise. The three roles will prepare the company for aggressive investments in marketing, staff, and overall operations.
Youth marketing veteran and former Activision Blizzard executive, Steve Brauntuch joins MGG as the organization’s first chief marketing officer. Operating and staff executive, Candace Rhymer is now the company’s first chief people officer, focused on scaling and implementing the internal practices required for healthy team expansion. Award-winning strategist Alyson Schefren also joins MGG as its new vice president of integrated marketing for the sales team after years serving as a marketing consultant. All three senior executives will lead Misfits’ efforts to accelerate growth and align the company toward producing, distributing, and monetizing original programming.
“Steve, Candace, and Alyson will be critical in Misfits’ evolution from an esports org to a media enterprise,” said Ben Spoont, CEO and co-founder of Misfits Gaming Group. “As we apply the considerable resources available to reimagine our business, I’m thrilled to partner with these talented senior leaders to tell our story and ensure we remain a person-first organization.”
In late September 2021, the nation’s fourth-largest broadcaster, E.W. Scripps, led a $35M funding round that will materially refocus the business away from the brutal reality of competitive gaming’s wins and losses. The company will now evolve into a media enterprise that elevates the stories behind the teams to deliver a slate of new programming. Through its partnership with Scripps, MGG will develop new, long-form series for traditional and OTT television audiences. The company’s new marketing team will ensure its story of transition is shared transparently, and Rhymer will help establish the talent programs necessary to carefully nurture performance.
“As one of gaming’s most visible and diversified brands, Misfits has a real opportunity to not only maintain an active conversation with our existing community but substantially grow our audience with original content and programming,” said Steve Brauntuch, Misfits Gaming Group newly minted chief marketing officer. “Reimagining modern esports into a media business is a real challenge that I’m excited to tackle alongside Misfits leadership.”
MGG operates five professional esports teams across gaming’s most competitive titles. Misfits Gaming of the LEC (League of Legends European Championship), Misfits Gaming of the LFL (League of Legends French League), the Florida Mayhem (Overwatch League), the Florida Mutineers (Call of Duty League), and Misfits Gaming (Rocket League).
