Jagex’s Visionary Leader Phil Mansell Steps Down After Eight Years of Innovation
By Long-serving Jagex CEO Phil Mansell is stepping aside from his position after eight years.
Mansell is expected to be succeeded by Jon Bellamy, who previously occupied executive positions at the company from 2015 to 2018 and has been a member of the Jagex Board since 2024.
Importantly, Bellamy also acts as a consultant for CVC Capital Partners—the private equity firm that acquired Jagex alongside Haveli Investments in 2024.
Mansell took on the CEO role in 2017. He initially joined Jagex in 2011 as a lead designer for the PC title Stellar Dawn, before moving into the position of RuneScape invention and monetization manager.
He advanced through the ranks over the ensuing decade, serving as executive producer of RuneScape and Old School RuneScape, vice president of studios, and eventually becoming CEO.
In a post shared on LinkedIn, Mansell expressed that he is passing the leadership to Bellamy to facilitate the next phase of growth.
“I’m extremely proud of what we’ve accomplished as a team over the past decade,” stated Mansell. “Steady player and revenue growth in a challenging market, nearly tripling the player base, expanding into mobile platforms, winning a BAFTA, innovating in community-driven games, and establishing RuneScape as one of the foremost MMORPG franchises. This sets an exceptional foundation for even greater success ahead.”
Mansell will stay with the company for the time being to ensure a smooth transition.
Incoming CEO Bellamy plans to share his broader vision for Jagex soon, but he emphasized his commitment to maintaining the quality of the company’s product lineup.
“It’s a great privilege to take over the leadership of Jagex and to guide a game franchise that holds great significance for millions, myself included,” he added in a statement.
“I am also eager to collaborate with the remarkable team, whom I know well from my time on the Board, to ensure that our games continue to be the best in the industry. I intend to spend some time now with the team, evaluating our aspirations for Jagex, and I anticipate sharing my broader vision with the RuneScape community in the near future.”
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