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ESPORTS: ex-Ninjas in Pyjamas COO tapped as IESF senior advisor

fragster Paolo 21. May 2024

The International Esports Federation or IESF has tapped the services of former Ninjas in Pyjamas COO Jonas “calc” Gundersen as its newest Senior Advisor.

Esports Insider reported that the ex-NIP COO and now Continuum X CEO is expected to “use his esports experience and expertise to help IESF and national federations grow esports tournaments and engage local communities.”

“In what capacity a federation is needed is very much a debate in our new industry, where the nature of our business is that no single entity owns the rights. The publishers own the game IPs, and our ecosystem is co-dependent on each other to continue building mutual value that benefits all,” Gundersen said in a LinkedIn post.

Formerly a Counter-Strike pro, calc joined Ninjas in Pyjamas as its COO back in 2020, where he oversaw several business moves for the company, including the establishment of the NIP Group with a Chinese company.

Before his appointment as IESF Senior advisor, he left Ninjas in Pyjamas in February 2024, Gundersen launching an investment and advisory company called Continuum X Group. This new firm aims at providing “advisory services, investment, and management to interested parties in the esports industry,” according to the Esports Insider report.

Gundersen committed to support the IESF in helping national federations and their members engage local communities, aside from growing the federation’s nationality-based tournament model and making sure operators and athletes from grassroots to top level will be more engaged.

“To me it’s about moderation, collaboration, facilitation, and a forum for a broader way of looking at esports, that hopefully helps capture the great momentum of the fantastic initiatives happening at the top, propelling it all the way down to the grassroots,” Gundersen said.