IGT has named Jamie Knight as Chief Studios Officer. Knight will lead IGT’s combined studio organization with Everi, effective January 1, 2027, placing her in charge of game design, content development and studio operations for a division built out by outgoing Chief Studios Officer Jean Venneman.
The role Knight is stepping into carries weight beyond a single title change. Since rejoining IGT in 2024, Jean Venneman has rebuilt the company’s global studio operations from the ground up, assembling a team of more than 1,200 employees and establishing shared practices across the various studio cultures under the IGT and Everi banner.
That work, according to the company, created the operational and creative foundation now positioning the combined organization for further growth.
Venneman will retire on December 31, 2026, closing out a gaming career that began at IGT in the early 1990s and spanned senior roles in product development, licensing, technology and operations before her return to the company two years ago.
“Returning to this organization and helping strengthen our global studio organization has been a meaningful way to close my career,” said Venneman. “I am incredibly proud of our studio teams and the foundation we have created. I am confident Jamie will carry that momentum forward and help unlock the next phase of our growth.”
Knight’s background suits a growth-stage studio group
Knight joins the role with 20 years of experience across several of the industry’s largest suppliers, with expertise centered on converting creative concepts into content that performs commercially.
She began her career as a creative herself, which the company says gives her a working understanding of how original ideas move through to finished, marketable products — a perspective it expects to carry into how she runs studio operations across both brands.
As Chief Studios Officer, Knight will set priorities for studio teams spanning IGT and Everi, direct innovation in game mechanics and mathematical modeling, and build an environment intended to let creative staff produce their best work.
“I’m energized to lead our studio teams and build on the strong foundation in place,” said Knight. “Together with our talented teams across IGT and Everi, we’ll push the boundaries of what’s possible in game design, content strategy, and math innovation to deliver world-class experiences on the floor.”
IGT said her focus centers on delivering content that keeps pace with what players and operators expect globally.
“Jean’s leadership created the foundation for this next phase of growth,” said Hector Fernandez, IGT CEO. “She brought together talented teams, strengthened how our studios operate and raised the bar for creative and operational excellence. We are deeply grateful for everything she has contributed to our organization and our industry.
“Jamie’s combination of creative instinct, studio leadership and focus on innovation in design and math will build on that momentum and unlock new possibilities across our combined studio organization,” Fernandez added.