Warner Bros. Games Restructures Leadership to Focus on Key Franchises

Credit: WB Games

Warner Bros. Games has officially restructured its leadership team as it sharpens its focus on developing titles based on its most iconic franchises—Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, Mortal Kombat, and the DC Universe.

As part of this strategic move, three key studio heads have been promoted to senior vice president roles.

Yves Lachance, who previously led Warner Bros. Games Montréal, will now serve as SVP of Development overseeing games related to the Harry Potter and Game of Thrones universes. 

Shaun Himmerick, head of NetherRealm Studios, steps into the role of SVP of Development for Mortal Kombat and DC-related games.

Meanwhile, Steven Flenory, formerly studio chief at WB Games New York, has been appointed SVP of Central Tech & Services, where he’ll focus on game and publishing technology, QA, user research, and customer service.

All three executives will report directly to JB Perrette, CEO of Global Streaming & Games at Warner Bros. Discovery.

According to a report by Variety, the new structure does not include any layoffs or executive exits. However, this change does follow the earlier departure of Warner Bros. Games President David Haddad in January 2025. It remains unclear whether his position will be filled or if the new structure essentially replaces that role.

Perrette shared a statement: “We are optimizing our team structure to develop long-term franchise roadmaps to delight players and fans”. He also praised Lachance, Himmerick, and Flenory as experienced leaders with strong track records in their respective domains.

This reorganization also comes in the wake of Warner Bros. Discovery’s announcement to split the company into two divisions: Streaming & Studios, which will include gaming, and Global Networks, focused on traditional TV assets. The split is expected to be completed by mid-2026, with the games division landing under Streaming & Studios alongside major entertainment IPs.

It’s worth noting that Warner Bros. Games has faced some turbulence recently. The company shut down three studios earlier this year, including Monolith Productions—leading to the cancellation of its much-anticipated Wonder Woman game. Meanwhile, Rocksteady Studios, once lauded for its Batman: Arkham series, struggled with the launch of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, which underperformed financially and triggered rounds of layoffs.

Warner Bros. also reported a write-down of over $300 million in its gaming division in 2024, which ultimately spurred the decision to double down on proven, globally recognized properties. With these new appointments, the company appears to be putting its most trusted franchises in capable hands.

Going forward, all development and production teams will report to Lachance and Himmerick, aligned by franchise, while central tech and publishing support will fall under Flenory’s direction. The publishing division will still be overseen by Perrette himself.