Jagex, the developer behind the RuneScape franchise, announced that it’s bringing on Jon Bellamy as CEO.
Bellamy (also known as Mod North) is taking over for Phil Mansell (also known as Mod Pips), who has been CEO at Jagex since 2017. Mansell will stay with Jagex for a bit to help Bellamy transition to CEO smoothly and efficiently.
Jon Bellamy joined Jagex’s Board last year, though he worked with the company from 2015 to 2018. From 2019 to 2023, Bellamy gained more industry experience at Huuuge Games until 2023.
Not only does Bellamy have over a decade of experience in the gaming industry, he’s also a long-time RuneScape player. He’s played the MMORPG for over 20 years, and he’s also a veteran of other communities like Old School RuneScape and RuneScape 3.
Several members of the Jagex community are excited about the transition. Marc Allera, a Jagex Chairman, shared the following:
“On behalf of the board, I want to sincerely thank Phil for his leadership and contributions to Jagex over the past 14 years. Under Phil’s leadership, Jagex has undergone significant transformation, growing into the Company it is today while always staying true to its player-centric focus – with an all time record number of Old School RuneScape players in Q4- 2024. We all wish him the very best and know he will go on to do great things in the future.
This is an incredibly exciting time for the Company as we continue to offer a world-class gaming experience and introduce new content, including the highly anticipated Sailing skill to Old School RuneScape in 2025. We’re confident that under Jon’s leadership, the business will continue to provide players the most fulfilling and engaging gaming experiences possible.”
Phil Mansell, the previous CEO, had fond remarks to share, too:
“After an incredible 14 years leading RuneScape and 8 years as Jagex’s CEO, I’m stepping back and handing over the baton to Jon Bellamy. Working alongside such a talented and passionate team, we’ve significantly grown the Company and player community, cementing Jagex as an innovator in community-driven games and genuine leader in this industry. As the Company embarks on its next chapter, I am delighted to be handing over to a leader who I know cares about our games and business as much as I do – and I look forward to supporting him as he builds upon the strong foundations we’ve created.”
And lastly, Jon Bellamy himself addressed his new role:
“It’s a great honour to assume the leadership of Jagex and to help steward a game franchise that means so much to so many millions, myself included. I am also excited to get to work with the outstanding team, whom I know well from my time on the Board, to ensure our games continue to be the best in the world. I plan to spend some time now with the team, reviewing our ambitions for Jagex, and plan to communicate my broader vision to the RuneScape community in the near-term.”
Jagex shared a video with all of its employees, which everyone can view below:
The video, which is summarized here in written form, explains that Bellamy will share his ideas for the future in the near future. He’s even addressing the community directly by answering questions the community poses. To ask a question, simply fill out this form and be on the lookout for a Q&A video in the future.
For more industry related news, you can read about Emona Capital’s buyout of Secret Mode and the upcoming Nacon Connect 2025.
