Development
Meet Xsolla’s EU team at gamescom 2026
August 21, 2026•8 min
gamescom is one of the most exciting events on the video games calendar, bringing together developers, publishers, technology providers, and industry professionals from around the world. As Xsolla heads for gamescom 2026, our European Business Development team is ready to talk through new opportunities and how we can help bring great games to players everywhere.
Whether you’re an independent studio, an established publisher, or a service provider looking to grow your network, the team would love to meet you and hear about your goals.
"The best part of working in EMEA is the sheer diversity of talent here. Different countries bring different strengths to different platforms, some deep in mobile, others in PC. What excites me most is watching the two learn from each other, especially as D2C blurs the lines between them. It's a market rich in knowledge and culture, and that diversity is exactly its beauty."
Jane has been part of Xsolla’s Business Development team since 2023, bringing extensive experience in strategic partnerships and the video game industry. Prior to joining Xsolla, Jane led a portfolio of some of the largest mobile developers at Unity and then Meta, focusing on monetization, mediation, and game economies. Today, Jane is passionate about helping developers and publishers identify new opportunities, build lasting partnerships, and achieve long-term commercial success.
Schedule a meeting with Jane at gamescom via MeetToMatch.
Connect with Jane on LinkedIn.
Gokce Kozandagi, VP Business Development, Middle East
“The Middle East video games market is evolving faster than ever, with a young, highly engaged audience and growing local talent. What excites me is helping studios and publishers understand this region's nuances, from payments to player behavior, so they can build strategies that truly resonate here. Let's connect at gamescom and talk about opportunities.”
Gokce has been part of the Xsolla team since 2024, bringing experience in business development, payments, and the wider video game industry. She is also a founding member of Games Majilis, contributing to the development of connections and collaborations within the gaming community. At Xsolla, she continues to draw on this international experience to help partners navigate opportunities and build successful relationships across the video game ecosystem.
Schedule a meeting with Gokce at gamescom via MeetToMatch.
Connect with Gokce on LinkedIn.
Darren Newnham, Country Manager, UK & Ireland
“Being a lifelong gamer with over 25 years in the industry has given me a real passion for the UK and Ireland. Often punching far above its weight, the region is a dense cluster of world-class studios, from indie teams to global publishers, with deep creative and technical talent. What excites me is how fast it's shifting toward direct-to-consumer, new distribution models, and studios taking real ownership of their player relationships. So let's connect at gamescom — I'll talk all things games with anyone.”
Darren is a new addition to Xsolla’s team, joining in 2026 with a wealth of leadership experience from across the video game industry. With his extensive experience in video game leadership, publishing, and business strategy, Darren brings valuable insight to helping partners develop successful opportunities and build meaningful connections.
Schedule a meeting with Darren at gamescom via MeetToMatch.
Connect with Darren on LinkedIn.
Inês Ramalho, Country Manager, Southern Europe
“Southern Europe is full of talent and untapped potential, and I believe it is well positioned to become one of the leading hubs in the global games industry. What excites me most is supporting developers and partners across the region, helping them overcome challenges, expand internationally, and turn creativity into long-term success.”
Inês has been part of the Xsolla team since 2024, bringing valuable experience in partner relationships and payment solutions within the video game industry. Drawing on her background in partner success and payments, Inês is passionate about building strong relationships, understanding business challenges, and helping developers and publishers unlock new opportunities through strategic collaboration.
Schedule a meeting with Inês at gamescom via MeetToMatch.
Connect with Inês on LinkedIn.
Eddy Celestine, Country Manager, France & Benelux
“24 years in this industry, and gamescom still gets me every single time. I've spent my career connecting studios, big names and tiny indies alike, through Atlangames, ADDON, and now Xsolla, and I can't wait to meet even more of you on the floor. Love from the French market!”
Eddy has been part of Xsolla’s team since 2024, bringing experience in business management and video game development partnerships. Combining his understanding of the developer ecosystem with his business development expertise, Eddy works with partners to identify opportunities, build strong relationships, and support growth across the video game industry.
Schedule a meeting with Eddy at gamescom via MeetToMatch.
Connect with Eddy on LinkedIn.
AJ Sath, Country Manager, DACH
“After almost 10 years working across the DACH games ecosystem, gamescom still feels like the big annual reunion. I’m always curious to know what studios are working on, what they’re struggling with, and to find practical ways to help them reach their players and build stronger communities. Can’t wait to catch up with old friends, discover new studios, and find ways we can help them grow!”
AJ brings extensive experience in the video game industry, community building, and business development. Beyond his role at Xsolla, AJ is the Co-Founder of Games Ground Berlin and serves as Vice Chairman of IGDA Berlin, where he helps strengthen collaboration across the global video game community. With a strong passion for supporting developers and fostering industry relationships, AJ combines his entrepreneurial background and industry knowledge to help partners discover new opportunities and build successful collaborations.
Schedule a meeting with AJ at gamescom via MeetToMatch.
Connect with AJ on LinkedIn.
Blazej Krakowiak, Country Manager, Central & Eastern Europe
"For years, CEE studios have been punching above their weight. After 21 years in this industry, I still see a lot of unrealized potential here. My focus at Xsolla is matching that talent and creativity with the infrastructure and leverage it deserves."
Blazej joined the team in 2025, bringing deep industry expertise and a strong network across the global video game ecosystem. In addition to his role at Xsolla, Blazej is a Program Board Member of the Game Industry Conference and an Advisory Board Member of Digital Dragons, where he contributes his knowledge and experience to support the growth of the video game industry.
Schedule a meeting with Blazej at gamescom via MeetToMatch.
Connect with Blazej on LinkedIn.
Danhua Wu, Country Manager, Nordics
“The Nordic gaming community has been an early adopter of D2C, driven by a collaborative culture where studios openly share what works, what doesn't, and everything in between. This spirit of knowledge-sharing has created an ecosystem where innovation and the industry as a whole continue to thrive. As we swap sunshine for sweaters in Nordic, here's to bigger launches, stronger communities, and better games ahead.”
Danhua has been part of the Xsolla team since 2023, bringing a strong background in business development and the video game technology ecosystem. Prior to joining Xsolla, Danhua was Business Development Manager at Forte, where she focused on building strategic partnerships and identifying opportunities across the video game and blockchain space. Before that, she served as Director of Business Development at N3TWORK INC, where she gained experience in developing commercial relationships and driving business growth. At Xsolla, Danhua continues to build meaningful partnerships and connect businesses with opportunities across the global video game industry.
Schedule a meeting with Danhua at gamescom via MeetToMatch.
Connect with Danhua on LinkedIn.
Doğan Zenginer, Business Development Manager, Turkey
“The Turkish game industry has never been afraid to adapt. That mindset has helped its studios compete on a global stage. As D2C continues to reshape the industry, Turkish studios are once again at the forefront of this transformation. By building direct relationships with players, studios are creating stronger communities and unlocking long-term growth.”
Doğan has been part of the Business Development team at Xsolla since early 2026. He is focused on expanding the company’s EMEA organization and reinforcing its long-term commitment to the region. Doğan brings a distinctive blend of financial and gaming industry experience to his role, positioning him well to help Turkish studios think beyond short-term revenue and build more resilient, scalable growth models for their future success.
Schedule a meeting with Doğan at gamescom via MeetToMatch.
Connect with Doğan on LinkedIn.
Meet the team
Jane Startseva, VP of Business Development, EMEA
"The best part of working in EMEA is the sheer diversity of talent here. Different countries bring different strengths to different platforms, some deep in mobile, others in PC. What excites me most is watching the two learn from each other, especially as D2C blurs the lines between them. It's a market rich in knowledge and culture, and that diversity is exactly its beauty."
Jane has been part of Xsolla’s Business Development team since 2023, bringing extensive experience in strategic partnerships and the video game industry. Prior to joining Xsolla, Jane led a portfolio of some of the largest mobile developers at Unity and then Meta, focusing on monetization, mediation, and game economies. Today, Jane is passionate about helping developers and publishers identify new opportunities, build lasting partnerships, and achieve long-term commercial success.
Schedule a meeting with Jane at gamescom via MeetToMatch.
Connect with Jane on LinkedIn.
Gokce Kozandagi, VP Business Development, Middle East
“The Middle East video games market is evolving faster than ever, with a young, highly engaged audience and growing local talent. What excites me is helping studios and publishers understand this region's nuances, from payments to player behavior, so they can build strategies that truly resonate here. Let's connect at gamescom and talk about opportunities.”
Gokce has been part of the Xsolla team since 2024, bringing experience in business development, payments, and the wider video game industry. She is also a founding member of Games Majilis, contributing to the development of connections and collaborations within the gaming community. At Xsolla, she continues to draw on this international experience to help partners navigate opportunities and build successful relationships across the video game ecosystem.
Schedule a meeting with Gokce at gamescom via MeetToMatch.
Connect with Gokce on LinkedIn.
Darren Newnham, Country Manager, UK & Ireland
“Being a lifelong gamer with over 25 years in the industry has given me a real passion for the UK and Ireland. Often punching far above its weight, the region is a dense cluster of world-class studios, from indie teams to global publishers, with deep creative and technical talent. What excites me is how fast it's shifting toward direct-to-consumer, new distribution models, and studios taking real ownership of their player relationships. So let's connect at gamescom — I'll talk all things games with anyone.”
Darren is a new addition to Xsolla’s team, joining in 2026 with a wealth of leadership experience from across the video game industry. With his extensive experience in video game leadership, publishing, and business strategy, Darren brings valuable insight to helping partners develop successful opportunities and build meaningful connections.
Schedule a meeting with Darren at gamescom via MeetToMatch.
Connect with Darren on LinkedIn.
Inês Ramalho, Country Manager, Southern Europe
“Southern Europe is full of talent and untapped potential, and I believe it is well positioned to become one of the leading hubs in the global games industry. What excites me most is supporting developers and partners across the region, helping them overcome challenges, expand internationally, and turn creativity into long-term success.”
Inês has been part of the Xsolla team since 2024, bringing valuable experience in partner relationships and payment solutions within the video game industry. Drawing on her background in partner success and payments, Inês is passionate about building strong relationships, understanding business challenges, and helping developers and publishers unlock new opportunities through strategic collaboration.
Schedule a meeting with Inês at gamescom via MeetToMatch.
Connect with Inês on LinkedIn.
Eddy Celestine, Country Manager, France & Benelux
“24 years in this industry, and gamescom still gets me every single time. I've spent my career connecting studios, big names and tiny indies alike, through Atlangames, ADDON, and now Xsolla, and I can't wait to meet even more of you on the floor. Love from the French market!”
Eddy has been part of Xsolla’s team since 2024, bringing experience in business management and video game development partnerships. Combining his understanding of the developer ecosystem with his business development expertise, Eddy works with partners to identify opportunities, build strong relationships, and support growth across the video game industry.
Schedule a meeting with Eddy at gamescom via MeetToMatch.
Connect with Eddy on LinkedIn.
AJ Sath, Country Manager, DACH
“After almost 10 years working across the DACH games ecosystem, gamescom still feels like the big annual reunion. I’m always curious to know what studios are working on, what they’re struggling with, and to find practical ways to help them reach their players and build stronger communities. Can’t wait to catch up with old friends, discover new studios, and find ways we can help them grow!”
AJ brings extensive experience in the video game industry, community building, and business development. Beyond his role at Xsolla, AJ is the Co-Founder of Games Ground Berlin and serves as Vice Chairman of IGDA Berlin, where he helps strengthen collaboration across the global video game community. With a strong passion for supporting developers and fostering industry relationships, AJ combines his entrepreneurial background and industry knowledge to help partners discover new opportunities and build successful collaborations.
Schedule a meeting with AJ at gamescom via MeetToMatch.
Connect with AJ on LinkedIn.
Blazej Krakowiak, Country Manager, Central & Eastern Europe
"For years, CEE studios have been punching above their weight. After 21 years in this industry, I still see a lot of unrealized potential here. My focus at Xsolla is matching that talent and creativity with the infrastructure and leverage it deserves."
Blazej joined the team in 2025, bringing deep industry expertise and a strong network across the global video game ecosystem. In addition to his role at Xsolla, Blazej is a Program Board Member of the Game Industry Conference and an Advisory Board Member of Digital Dragons, where he contributes his knowledge and experience to support the growth of the video game industry.
Schedule a meeting with Blazej at gamescom via MeetToMatch.
Connect with Blazej on LinkedIn.
Danhua Wu, Country Manager, Nordics
“The Nordic gaming community has been an early adopter of D2C, driven by a collaborative culture where studios openly share what works, what doesn't, and everything in between. This spirit of knowledge-sharing has created an ecosystem where innovation and the industry as a whole continue to thrive. As we swap sunshine for sweaters in Nordic, here's to bigger launches, stronger communities, and better games ahead.”
Danhua has been part of the Xsolla team since 2023, bringing a strong background in business development and the video game technology ecosystem. Prior to joining Xsolla, Danhua was Business Development Manager at Forte, where she focused on building strategic partnerships and identifying opportunities across the video game and blockchain space. Before that, she served as Director of Business Development at N3TWORK INC, where she gained experience in developing commercial relationships and driving business growth. At Xsolla, Danhua continues to build meaningful partnerships and connect businesses with opportunities across the global video game industry.
Schedule a meeting with Danhua at gamescom via MeetToMatch.
Connect with Danhua on LinkedIn.
Doğan Zenginer, Business Development Manager, Turkey
“The Turkish game industry has never been afraid to adapt. That mindset has helped its studios compete on a global stage. As D2C continues to reshape the industry, Turkish studios are once again at the forefront of this transformation. By building direct relationships with players, studios are creating stronger communities and unlocking long-term growth.”
Doğan has been part of the Business Development team at Xsolla since early 2026. He is focused on expanding the company’s EMEA organization and reinforcing its long-term commitment to the region. Doğan brings a distinctive blend of financial and gaming industry experience to his role, positioning him well to help Turkish studios think beyond short-term revenue and build more resilient, scalable growth models for their future success.
Schedule a meeting with Doğan at gamescom via MeetToMatch.
Connect with Doğan on LinkedIn.
Start the conversation
Throughout gamescom 2026, Xsolla’s team will be available to discuss publishing opportunities, commercial partnerships, market expansion, and new ways to work together. If any of that sounds relevant to where your studio is headed, let's talk.See you in Cologne
The best partnerships start with a simple hello. If you'd like to meet with the team, schedule a meeting here: https://xsolla.com/events/gamescom26#schedule-a-meetingFeatured articles
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