Yves Guillemot’s Son Charlie and Ubisoft Veteran Christophe Derennes Named Co-CEOs of Tencent-Backed Ubisoft Subsidiary

Ubisoft has officially named Charlie Guillemot and Christophe Derennes as co-Chief Executive Officers of its newly formed subsidiary, which is partially owned by Tencent. The announcement, published on Ubisoft’s official news site, marks a significant leadership move as Ubisoft reshapes its operations around its largest franchises: Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six.

This newly established entity, first unveiled in March, will serve as the operational core for these flagship IPs and is considered a strategic collaboration between Ubisoft and Tencent. The new leadership duo brings together two contrasting yet complementary experiences.

Christophe Derennes, a Ubisoft veteran with 35 years at the company, was most recently the head of Ubisoft’s North American studios. He previously served as general manager of Ubisoft Montreal and was a co-founder of that studio, one of Ubisoft’s crown jewels. Derennes stated his immediate priority is “to finalize the foundations of this new entity, clarifying team responsibilities while ensuring current projects and roadmaps stay on course.”

Charlie Guillemot, son of Ubisoft co-founder and current CEO Yves Guillemot, returns to Ubisoft in a prominent leadership capacity. His appointment, however, has already stirred criticism and renewed conversations around nepotism within the company. In a detailed interview with Variety, Charlie addressed the concern directly:

“Yes, I’m Yves’ son. That’s not something I hide from. But my appointment isn’t only about family ties; it’s about what Ubisoft needs at this moment. I’ve spent the last decade building experience both inside and outside Ubisoft, leading teams, managing brands, and navigating change in a fast-moving industry.”

Charlie previously led Owlient, a Ubisoft-acquired mobile studio, and later helmed the company’s transformation committee. Between his Ubisoft roles, he co-founded the Web3 and AI-focused studio Unagi, where he still serves as CEO. His LinkedIn profile confirms this dual role.

Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot justified the dual appointment by emphasizing their complementary expertise:

“Christophe brings a deep production expertise and decades of hands-on leadership in Canada on Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six. Charlie brings an entrepreneurial perspective, a sharp understanding of evolving industry dynamics and players’ expectations, shaped by his experience in game development. He has a strong product mindset, a deep understanding of tech, and a passion for games.”

He added that the two leaders bring “distinct, complementary strengths” critical to the subsidiary’s success.

While some in the gaming industry view this move as a passing of the torch within the Guillemot family, others see it as a broader corporate maneuver tied to Ubisoft’s growing partnership with Tencent. The next few quarters will reveal whether this leadership reshuffle strengthens Ubisoft’s grip on its most important franchises.

What’s your take on Ubisoft’s leadership shuffle and Tencent’s increasing presence? Let’s discuss in the comments.