Charlie Guillemot has addressed concerns of nepotism after being named co-CEO of Ubisoft’s new Tencent-funded subsidiary, following in the footsteps of his father Yves Guillemot.
Ubisoft announced in March it was launching a new subsidiary with €1.16bn of investment from Chinese conglomerate Tencent. This subsidiary will be the home of the company’s biggest franchises: Assassin’s Creed, Rainbow Six, and Far Cry.
Now the company has named Christophe Derennes and Charlie Guillemot as co-CEOs. Derennes has spent over 35 years at Ubisoft, co-founded Ubisoft’s Montreal studio in 1997, and most recently served as managing director for the company’s North American output.
Charlie Guillemot, meanwhile, began his career in 2014 at Owlient, a studio acquired by Ubisoft. The studio’s biggest release, mobile game Tom Clancy’s Elite Squad, was shut down a year after launch having failed to find an audience. Before that, the game was embroiled in controversy following accusations of including imagery promoting alt-right Black Lives Matter conspiracy theories.
After this, Guillemot left Ubisoft to co-found Unagi, a company known for Web3 gaming, AI, and NFTs.
In a press release announcing its new subsidiary co-CEOs, Ubisoft stated: “Charlie Guillemot has built a hybrid career at the intersection of management and innovation. He brings an entrepreneurial perspective and a sharp understanding of evolving industry dynamics and players’ expectations, shaped by his experience in game development. With a strong product mindset, deep tech culture, and a passion for games, he represents a new generation of leadership focused on innovation, quality, and putting players at the centre of decision-making.”
In an interview with Variety, Guillemot then directly addressed any concerns of nepotism, following in the footsteps of his father.
“Yes, I’m Yves’ son,” he said. “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.”
He continued: “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. I also made the conscious choice to step away when it made sense, to learn and grow elsewhere.