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EXCLUSIVE: Arcade, which reps YouTube collective The Sidemen, has restructured and brought in a Head of Original Video from News UK to lead on IP development and originals.
As part of the restructure, Arcade founders Jordan Schwarzenberger and Sam Uwins have taken on formalized roles of CEO and COO respectively.
The team have taken a swing by hiring Connor Suckling, a former News UK and LADbible originals executive, as Head of Original Video. He will lead the charge on new IP development and originals, coming as Inside, The Sidemen’s Big Brother-esque reality series that started life on YouTube, becomes a franchise on Netflix. Suckling’s hire comes as the BBC moves into the YouTube originals game for the first time.
Elsewhere, Arcade has hired ex Google global product lead Adam Smith to run its newly-forged Creator Access division, which enables direct ad sales alongside YouTube content, while Head of Arcade Creative Joe Lamb has been upped to MD of the commercial division.
At Sidemen Entertainment, Victor Bengtsson has been promoted from MD to CEO. He will continue to lead the team as it builds to more than 50 employees.
Led by KSI, The Sidemen are a YouTube sensation with more than 100 million subscribers and billions of views across channels. The group sells merch and hosts an annual charity soccer match that sells out Wembley Stadium. Last year, Thomas Benski’s Lumina Media made a seven-figure investment in Arcade, taking a minority stake.
Schwarzenberger said: “We’re thrilled about the movements here at Arcade. With key hires from some of the biggest companies in the world, alongside the creation of new verticals, it’s an exciting time for us and momentum is only going one way.”
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