It looks distinctly nepotistic that the CEO’s son has landed such a post within the French publisher.
In March, Ubisoft announced the creation of a new subsidiary, partially owned by Tencent, which will house Ubisoft’s biggest IPs and franchises (Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six). The company will have two co-CEOs. Christophe Derennes previously led Ubisoft’s North American studios, a role he has held since 2023. Before that, he served as managing director of Ubisoft Montreal from 2020—a studio Derennes founded in 1997, where he mostly worked as executive VP of development. He has been with Ubisoft for 35 years and says his new job is about finalizing the new unit’s foundation, clarifying team responsibilities, and ensuring ongoing projects and schedules stay on track.
His fellow co-CEO, Charlie Guillemot, grew up with Ubisoft as a family business, founded by his father and uncles. Right out of college, he joined the company, and after earning a master’s in computer science, was appointed head of Owlient (acquired by Ubisoft in 2014), where he led mobile game development—including the controversial 2020 release Tom Clancy’s Elite Squad. The intro video for Elite Squad caused an immediate stir, as it contained images suggesting Black Lives Matter was part of a terrorist conspiracy. Ubisoft apologized, changed the video, and Charlie left the company in 2021. His appointment to run Owlient drew criticism from staff who saw it as nepotism. In a Variety interview published with the announcement of Charlie Guillemot and Christophe Derennes becoming co-CEOs, Charlie addressed the nepotism question:
“Yes, I am Yves’ son. That’s not something I hide. But my appointment isn’t just about family ties—it’s about what Ubisoft needs right now. I’ve spent the past decade gaining experience inside and outside Ubisoft, leading teams, managing brands, and navigating a rapidly changing industry. I also made a conscious choice to step away when it made sense, to learn and grow elsewhere.
Right now, it’s not my name that matters, but the work ahead. Ubisoft is at a turning point. I’m expected to help move the company forward by bringing energy and focus, and by relying on the teams’ incredible existing expertise. I’m here to contribute, support, and help create the right conditions for everyone to do their best work. Beyond that, this is the industry where I want to be. There’s no other place where creativity, talent, and technology intersect so dynamically, and where you constantly have to adapt to new platforms, new ideas, and new player expectations. That’s what draws me in. I am fully committed to doing everything I can to make this work. Ubisoft as a company, as a team, and as a place known for taking risks matters to me. I know trust has to be earned, not given. That’s exactly how I’m approaching this role,” said Guillemot.
This is officially Charlie Guillemot’s third role at Ubisoft, having moved from Owlient studio head to head of Ubisoft’s transformation committee (appointed earlier this year). Between 2021 and 2025, he co-founded Web3 and AI-focused studio Unagi, where he’s reportedly still CEO according to LinkedIn. On why Charlie and Christophe were chosen as co-CEOs, Charlie’s father and Christophe’s boss, Yves Guillemot, said: “Christophe brings deep development expertise and decades of hands-on production leadership experience from Canada on Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six. Charlie brings an entrepreneurial mindset and sharp understanding of industry dynamics and player expectations, shaped by his experiences in game development. He has strong product instincts, a deep understanding of technology, and a passion for games,” said Ubisoft’s CEO.
Still, it all feels a bit nepotistic!
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