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Yves Guillemot’s Son and Christophe Derennes Appointed Co-CEOs of Ubisoft’s New Tencent Subsidiary

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Ubisoft has revealed that Christophe Derennes and Charlie Guillemot, son of Ubisoft’s co-founder and CEO Yves Guillemot, will serve as joint chief executives for the company’s recently established Tencent-backed division.

Earlier this year, Ubisoft disclosed plans to create a subsidiary partially owned by Tencent, which would oversee major franchises like Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six. While initial details outlined the subsidiary’s structure, further specifics about its operations had remained sparse until now.

The latest update confirms leadership roles for Derennes and Guillemot. Derennes, previously overseeing Ubisoft’s North American studios and co-founder of Ubisoft Montreal, brings over three decades of experience. He emphasized focusing on stabilizing the subsidiary’s infrastructure while maintaining ongoing project timelines.

Charlie Guillemot, returning to Ubisoft after a hiatus, began his career at the company in 2014 as head of mobile studio Owlient. His tenure there included the launch of Tom Clancy’s Elite Squad, which faced backlash for controversial narrative elements linked to real-world events. Guillemot departed Ubisoft in 2021 amid internal critiques of perceived favoritism.

In a recent interview, Guillemot acknowledged his familial ties but stressed his qualifications: “My focus is on Ubisoft’s future. While my last name connects me to the company’s history, my experience—both here and in external ventures—prepares me to address industry challenges.” He later added, “This role is about contributing to a team effort, not personal legacy.”

Since leaving Ubisoft in 2021, Guillemot co-founded Unagi, a studio exploring blockchain and AI integration. His LinkedIn profile still lists him as its CEO. His reappointment follows a brief 2025 return to Ubisoft’s internal transformation team.

Yves Guillemot highlighted the co-CEOs’ complementary skills: “Christophe’s mastery of AAA development and Charlie’s innovative vision align with our goals for this partnership. Together, they’ll drive the subsidiary’s success.”