Greg Solano, a.k.a. Garga, the pseudonymous creator of the NFT giant Bored Ape Yacht Club, has announced that he will be stepping into the role of CEO of BAYC creator Yuga Labs.
Yuga Labs Co-founder Returns as CEO
Yuga Labs, the innovative force behind the immensely popular Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) non-fungible token (NFT) collection, will experience a change in leadership as co-founder Greg Solano has announced that he is stepping back into the role of chief executive officer. This move comes as Daniel Alegre, who held the position for approximately ten months, announced his departure from the company.
Alegre’s Departure and Solano’s Return
Alegre, who took the reins as CEO after joining Yuga Labs from gaming giant Activision Blizzard, is stepping down after ten months in the role. During his tenure, Yuga Labs continued to develop the Otherside game, albeit with mixed reviews for its trailer. In a tweet on X (formerly Twitter), Greg Solano, also known as “Gargamel,” expressed gratitude to Alegre for his service and reaffirmed the company’s commitment to the development of the BAYC-inspired Otherside virtual game despite delays.
Focus on BAYC and Otherside
The Bored Ape Yacht Club NFT collection and ApeCoin remain flagship projects for Yuga Labs, with BAYC generating $2.9 billion in sales on the OpenSea NFT marketplace. Solano outlined plans for the company’s future, emphasizing the establishment of a new subsidiary, “BAYC LLC,” dedicated to overseeing BAYC affairs. This move aims to provide the BAYC team with the autonomy needed to realize its vision and drive innovation.
Solano stated,
“We want to unshackle the BAYC team at Yuga as much as possible to execute against its vision. More focus, more agility.”
He also mentioned plans to make the Otherside Metaverse project a more public and iterative process, allowing for greater community involvement and feedback.
Barbell Approach to Gaming Projects
Solano also reported that Yuga Labs is adopting a “barbell approach” to its gaming projects, balancing high-risk ventures with safer endeavors. Alongside the development of fun and mass-market games like Dookey Dash, the team is integrating crypto-native mechanics and platforms into its portfolio. This strategy reflects the company’s commitment to innovation and diversification within the gaming sector.
The leadership transition marks a pivotal moment for the company, with Greg Solano’s return as CEO signaling a renewed focus on advancing its core projects, particularly the Bored Ape Yacht Club collection and the Otherside virtual game.
Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.
