Arctic7 heads into 2023 with two key executive hires

Game and virtual production development company Arctic7 has announced the appointment of John Burns as Chief Commercial Officer and Felix Jorge as Chief Communications Officer. These additions bring further experience and creativity to the executive team and will help Arctic7 push the boundaries in delivering exceptional entertainment across genres.

Arctic 7’s growth this past year has made them better equipped to take on a multitude of large scale projects. With the appointments of John and Felix, Arctic7 looks to continue where they left off in 2022 – becoming a leader in creating immersive content that blurs the line between linear and interactive experiences.

Arctic7 was founded in 2021 by industry veterans Igor Efremov, Mark Rizzo and Alan Van Slyke – and the company has continued to grow at a steady pace. The appointments of John Burns and Felix Jorge are an exciting start to 2023, as Arctic7 aims to become a dominant force in full game and co-development projects. This move not only helps them take another step towards achieving these goals, but it also opens opportunities for Arctic7 beyond traditional game development.

Felix Jorge is the CEO and founder of Narwhal Studios and has worked in the entertainment industry for over 16 years. He has worked on some of the largest projects in the world, by providing Virtual Art Department services to some of the most well-known films, TV shows, and video games including The Mandalorian, Antman and the Wasp and the upcoming Avatar: The Last Airbender on Netflix. His appointment to Arctic7 showcases the company’s focus on delivering innovative and exceptional storytelling, virtual production expertise, and immersive experiences with heart and depth to audiences.

Felix Jorge comments: “There’s a real excitement growing at Arctic7 which I’m proud to be a part of. We have tons of ideas and visions for the future that I believe will push the boundaries of what’s possible in the game development, virtual production, and entertainment spaces.” 

John Burns has a history of senior roles within major corporations and also leading entrepreneurial ventures/start-ups including successful fundraising and an IPO. Formerly Senior Vice President of Publishing at Jagex, John has also held senior positions at NCSoft, Activision and Electronic Arts. John is a results-driven leader with experience in developing strong teams, driving growth, and building strong mutually beneficial partnerships that deliver industry leading gaming and entertainment properties.

John Burns comments: “I am excited to join the Arctic 7 team, the company had a very strong launch year in 2022 and has significant plans for growth and acceleration in 2023 as we look to work with the world’s greatest gaming and intellectual property companies to deliver incredible entertainment experiences globally.”

CEO and co-founder Igor Efremov summarises: “John and Felix are exactly the type of leaders we want at Arctic7. Their passion, creativity, and eclectic experience will ensure a perfect fit with our values – and will help to make 2023 our most exciting year to date.”