Director, Esports Business Development

As the Director of Esports Business Development for Riot Games in APAC, you will report to the Head of Global Esports Business Development and lead the regional commercialization strategy across League of Legends, VALORANT, and TFT esports. You will be responsible for shaping and executing Riot’s partnerships vision across the APAC region, driving sustainable revenue growth while ensuring culturally relevant, fan-first integrations. In this role, you will operate as a senior leader, setting the long-term business development strategy for APAC while aligning with global priorities. You will oversee a regional team and key agency partners, guiding the full lifecycle of high-impact partnerships—from market strategy and opportunity creation to deal structuring, closing, and execution at scale. You bring a deep understanding of the APAC esports and media landscape, with the ability to identify market-specific opportunities and translate them into meaningful partnerships. You balance commercial outcomes with player and fan needs, delivering transformative, regionally resonant deals that elevate Riot’s esports ecosystem. Responsibilities: Define and lead the APAC esports business development strategy, aligning regional priorities with global objectives across all titles. Build, mentor, and scale a high-performing regional business development team, fostering leadership growth and operational excellence. Team leadership across multiple countries. Own the regional commercial pipeline, including identifying new revenue streams, expanding strategic partnerships, and closing complex, multi-market deals. Establish and manage senior relationships with key regional partners, brands, and agencies. Partner closely with global teams to localize and execute sponsorship frameworks, ensuring relevance across diverse APAC markets. Collaborate cross-functionally (product, publishing, esports operations, content, and marketing) to unlock new assets, formats, and monetization opportunities. Lead the development of APAC-specific go-to-market strategies, sponsorship packages, and integrated partner solutions. Drive innovation in partnership models, including digital, broadcast, and experiential integrations tailored to evolving fan behaviors in APAC. Oversee agency relationships and regional sales ecosystems to maximize reach and efficiency. Maintain deep expertise in esports, sports, media, and entertainment trends across APAC, proactively identifying emerging opportunities and risks. Required Qualifications: 12+ years of experience in partnerships, business development, or commercial strategy, with a strong track record of leading large-scale deals from strategy through execution. 5+ years of senior leadership experience, including managing leaders and scaling regional or multi-market teams. Demonstrated success operating in APAC markets, with a nuanced understanding of cultural, commercial, and regulatory dynamics. Proven ability to influence and collaborate with executive stakeholders internally and externally. Desired Qualifications: Experience in esports, gaming, sports, media, or live entertainment industries. Strong network of brand, agency, and media relationships across APAC. Exceptional strategic thinking, negotiation, and storytelling skills. Track record of building innovative partnerships with measurable business impact (e.g., revenue growth, renewals, audience engagement). Experience working in a global organization with regional autonomy and cross-cultural collaboration. For this role, you'll find success through craft expertise, a collaborative spirit, and decision-making that prioritizes the delight of players. We will be looking at your past studies, experience, and your personal relationship with games. If you embody player empathy and care about the experiences of players, this could be the role for you! Our Perks: Riot focuses on work/life balance, shown by our open paid time off policy and other perks such as flexible work schedules. We offer medical, dental, and life insurance, parental leave for you, your spouse/domestic partner, and children, and a 401k with company match. Check out our benefits pages for more information. At Riot Games, we put players first. That mission drives every decision in our quest to create games and experiences that make it better to be a player. Whether you’re working directly on a new player-facing experience or you’re supporting the company as a whole, everyone at Riot is part of our mission. And just like in our games, we’re better when we work together. Our goal is to create collaborative teams where you are empowered to bring your unique perspective everyday. If that sounds like the kind of place you want to work, we’re looking forward to your application. It’s our policy to provide equal employment opportunity for all applicants and members of Riot Games, Inc. Riot Games makes reasonable accommodations for handicapped and disabled Rioters and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, handicap, veteran status, marital status, criminal history, or any other category protected by applicable federal and state law. We consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with applicable federal, state and local law, including the California Fair Chance Act, the City of Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the Washington Fair Chance Act. Per the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, the following core duties may create a basis for disqualifying candidates with relevant criminal histories: Safeguarding confidential and sensitive Company data Communication with others, including Rioters and third parties such as vendors, and/or players, including minors Accessing Company assets, secure digital systems, and networks Ensuring a safe interactive environment for players and other Rioters These duties are directly related to essential operations, safety, trust, and compliance obligations within our organization. Please note that job duties may evolve based on business needs and additional responsibilities may be assigned as necessary to maintain operational efficiency and security.