by Over the past 13 years since its first World Championship, League of Legends (LoL) has become a cornerstone of the esports world, largely thanks to the leadership of Naz Aletaha.
Her decade-long tenure at Riot Games, where she served as the Global Head of League of Legends Esports, has significantly contributed to the game’s success.
Naz Aletaha, who joined Riot Games over 13 years ago from Activision, announced her departure from the company on X (Twitter).
After more than twelve incredible years, @NazAletaha is stepping down as the Global Head of League of Legends Esports.
While it's bittersweet to see you go, we'll be forever grateful for everything that you have done for LoL Esports and wish you nothing but the best for your… pic.twitter.com/V8RFF5js9p
— LoL Esports (@lolesports) July 29, 2024
Starting her career at Riot as a Senior Manager in Business Development, she quickly moved to the LoL Esports division as the Head of Global Esports Partnerships and Business Development.
Her exceptional leadership led to her promotion in October 2021 to Global Head of League of Legends Esports.
Reflecting on her time at Riot, Aletaha said, “There’s a palpable, contagious sort of passion that Rioters share. It’s why I joined Riot in the first place back in 2012.
“More than a decade and lots of growth later, that passion still shines through every team, function, and office.
“It’s been an honor to work alongside such a talented group of individuals, and my thanks goes out to each and every one of them for the impact they’ve had on me and what we do every day.”
Under her leadership, LoL Esports achieved numerous milestones, including the 2023 World Championship, which set a record with 6,402,760 peak viewers.
“I think LoL Esports has the best fans in the world,” Aletaha continued.
“Your passion runs so deep, and your love for the game, the teams, and the players has made LoL Esports into what it is today.
“Seeing the ways you show up for this sport across every corner of the world has, hands down, been the best part of my esports experience.
“You make it so worth it. Thank you for caring as much as you do.”
In February 2024, Aletaha took a sabbatical after a challenging year.
Upon her return, she announced her decision to leave Riot Games.
“After time away on sabbatical, I’ve decided I’m ready to start a new chapter in my career,” she said.
“It’s been an incredible 12.5-year run here at Riot Games, and I couldn’t be prouder of what we’ve accomplished as a team.
“This decision wasn’t easy, but it’s the right time for me to explore new horizons.
“I’ll be taking the next few months to transition the team before leaving the company by the fall.”
Aletaha will remain with Riot for the next few months to ensure a smooth transition.
Chris Greeley, who has been with Riot Games since January 2017 and served as the Global Head of Strategy for LoL Esports, will take over as Global Head of LoL Esports.
Greeley has also overseen LoL Esports in North America and Oceania from 2021 to 2022.
The community and her colleagues at Riot Games, including Pu Liu, game director for League of Legends, and Leo Faria, head of VALORANT esports, have expressed their appreciation for Aletaha’s contributions.
Her departure marks the end of an era, and the LoL Esports community eagerly anticipates the future under Greeley’s leadership.
