EA chief people officer Mala Singh retires, marking first C-suite exit post-buyout

EA chief people officer Mala Singh is retiring after 15 years at the company. Her exit marks the first notable C-suite departure since EA's $55 billion buyout. The deal was led by Saudi Arabia's PIF, Silver Lake and Affinity Partners. Hugh Atkinson, SVP of people experience, succeeds her, with Singh staying through early 2027.

Internal promotion preserves HR continuity through the ownership change
Hugh Atkinson, formerly VP of HR, becomes CPO after serving as SVP of people experience.
The internal pick keeps HR leadership continuity intact right after EA's ownership change.
Singh will stay through early 2027 specifically to support that handover.
"Many of the habits that define EA today" - Andrew Wilson, EA CEO

Culture tension and pay scrutiny shadow the transition
Multiple sources told Vertical Slice that Singh was not seen as a champion for employees.
She was viewed internally as sticking to the "standard C-suite playbook," sources said.
The exit follows EA's Battlefield Studios layoffs despite Battlefield 6's record-breaking release.
CEO Andrew Wilson earned $77 million last fiscal year, versus $127,000 for the median worker.
What this means
For Publishers & Developers: Recruit senior EA talent now, while post-buyout culture uncertainty loosens retention.
For Investors & VC: Add culture-retention and key-person risk to diligence on debt-financed gaming take-privates.
For Service Vendors: Pitch cost-down co-development capacity to EA studios facing debt-driven efficiency targets.