EA chief people officer Mala Singh retires, marking the first C-suite departure following Saudi buyout

EA chief people officer Mala Singh is stepping down, marking the first notable C-suite departure since the Battlefield and The Sims publisher was taken private in a $55 billion buyout led by Saudi Arabia's sovereign Public Investment Fund (PIF). 

In an email sent to EA workers and viewed by Vertical Slice, Singh explained she is retiring after 15 years at the company (across two separate spells) to spend more time with her family. 

"It has been a privilege to lead alongside EA's executive management team. Their commitment to our people and our culture is what made my work so deeply rewarding and I'm grateful for their partnership over the years," reads the email.

"[...] As I reflect over the years, what I'm most proudest of is the sense of community that unites us, wherever we work, and the shared knowledge that together we're creating a culture that's truly special."

Recently, that culture has looked like EA choosing to cut jobs across Battlefield Studios after the latest release in the shooter franchise, Battlefield 6, was praised for shattering records (thanks, GD.com). Months later, Game File reported that EA CEO Andrew Wilson earned $77 million in 'actually paid' compensation during the previous fiscal year. Quite a bit more than the median worker at EA, who received $127,000.

In another email obtained by Vertical Slice, Wilson heaped praise on Singh and claimed she was instrumental in shaping "many of the habits that define EA today." 

Both Wilson and Singh confirmed that Hugh Atkinson—currently SVP of people experience and formerly VP of HR at the company—will be replacing her as chief people officer. 

Singh will remain at EA into early 2027 to assist with the transition. Multiple sources told Vertical Slice that Singh was hardly perceived as a champion of the people, and was largely viewed as someone who would stick to the "standard C-suite playbook."

Again, Singh stressed she is retiring for personal reasons, but this is still (by our count) the first notable leadership exit following EA's controversial, debt-financed buyout at the hands of PIF, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners. The latter of which is led by Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, who serves as CEO. 

Earlier this year (in my past life as news editor of Game Developer), I spoke with a number of EA staffers who claimed employees were trapped in a maelstrom of uncertainty following the deal. Some expressed fear at how the internal company culture might change for the worse under Saudi ownership, and suggested EA could become a vehicle for culture washing.

PIF now holds a 93.4 percent stake in EA. The investment vehicle is chaired by Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, who continues to face scrutiny for allegedly ordering the assassination of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi. 

Human Rights Watch also reports that Saudi Arabia continues to quash freedom of expression, repress women and members of the LGBTQ+ community, and impose the death penalty on prisoners—including journalists who challenge the royal family.

Vertical Slice has approached EA for comment.