Riot Games bolsters sponsorship strategy with new Global Head of Esports partnerships

Game developer Riot Games has announced the promotion of David Mulhall to Global Head of Esports Partnerships and Business Development.

In the role, Mulhall will lead a global team dedicated to expanding Riot Games’ partnership portfolio.

In addition to attracting new partners, Mulhall will also be responsible for delivering ‘unparalleled value’ to Riot Games‘ existing partners across the publisher’s global and regional events for League of Legends, VALORANT,and Teamfight Tactics.

Mulhall joined Riot Games in 2020 and was responsible for building the partnership strategy for the inaugural season of the VALORANT Champions Tour. As a result, the publisher renewed, extended, and expanded its deals with the likes of Red Bull, Mastercard, and AWS.

Prior to joining Riot Games, Mulhall was the Director of Corporate Partnerships for NBA franchise Sacramento Kings and its Kings Guard esports branch. Alongside his experience in the esports industry, he also held sponsorship roles in Australia’s National Rugby League (NRL) and the Supercars Championship motorsport series.

Riot Games continues to attract new brands to its expanding portfolio. In January 2024, it announced a large-scale partnership with Hewlett Packard (HP) brands HyperX and OMEN alongside partnering with Kia America for the 2024 LCS season.

John Needham, President of Esports at Riot Games, spoke on the promotion: “David has been forging longstanding partnerships with premier brands that have supported our efforts to deliver groundbreaking esports events to fans worldwide.

“We’re more focused than ever on creating opportunities for partners that deliver great value and improve the player experience watching esports. David’s deep understanding and passion for our various esports communities is critical to successfully integrating partners into our broadcasts and events.”