Summary
Adam Kicinski, the longtime CEO ofCD Projekt Red, is stepping down from his current position and moving into a new role over the coming year. Kicinski has been a part of CDPR since its inception, joining founders Marcin Iwiński and Michał Kicinski (who is Adam’s brother) in 1994. Back then, the Polish studio was known simply as CD Projekt and mainly localized games likethe first twoBaldur’s Gateentriesbefore rebranding as CD Projekt Red in 2002 and striking out on its own with the firstWitchergame a few years later.
In the many years since CD Project’s humble beginnings, Adam Kicinski has served in several different positions. He worked as a marketing director from 1999 to 2004, a co-director in 2004, a director in 2006, and eventually president and CEO of CD Project Group from 2010 onwards. During his nearly 30 years as part of CDPR, Kicinski has led the company through many highs and lows, fromThe Witcher 3: Wild Hunt’s blockbuster successin 2015 toCyberpunk 2077’s infamous 2020 launch and eventual redemption - which has culminated in the release of thePhantom LibertyDLC.
Now Adam Kicinski is leaving his long-held position and moving on to a supervising role within CD Projekt Red starting next year. This announcement was made on October 5, when Kicinski revealed that he will transfer to the role of chief strategy officer as of January 2024 as part of a larger shake-up withinCD Projekt Red’s upper management structure. Current chief creative officer Adam Badowski and chief commercial officer Michał Nowakowski will then take his place as joint CEOs of CDPR on January 1.
In his new position, Adam Kicinski will oversee the activities of CD Projekt Red and issue recommendations and adopt resolutions within the larger CD Projekt Capital Group. Coincidentally, CD Projekt co-founder and former joint CEO Marcin Iwiński joined this same supervisory board last October - just as CD Projekt Red opened a new studio in Boston to help work on its large slate ofupcomingWitcherandCyberpunk 2077games.
Adam Kicinski’s announcement coincided with news thatCyberpunk 2077has sold over 25 million units, as well as the announcement of a live-actionCyberpunkproject that aims to capitalize on the success oflast year’sCyberpunk: Edgerunnersanime series. Kicinski has been a major player inCD Projekt Redsince the very beginning, but now he is stepping aside and moving to a new position within the company he helped make a household name within the gaming industry effective next year.
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