Kickstarter names former Exploding Kittens sales manager as new head of games

Former Exploding Kittens senior manager of North American sales Maggie Clayton has joined crowdfunding platform Kickstarter as its new head of games.

She replaces previous incumbent Jonathan Ritter-Roderick, who has moved to the role of head of creator strategy on the new performance team after two years in the position.

Clayton will manage the games team engaging with and advocating for developers, fostering relationships with new and returning creators, and providing strategic guidance for projects.

As well as working at Exploding Kittens, which itself raised nearly $8.8 million in a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign, Clayton has previously worked as sales and marketing director at tabletop games publisher Greater Than Games.

Kickstarter said its games category continues to attract tens of millions of dollars in pledges each year. In 2023, it said it saw a 17% increase year-over-year in the number of successful projects on the platform, and a 14% increase in the number of games projects. It did not provide specific figures on how many campaigns for games were launched last year.

Evolving needs

"I am thrilled to join a platform that has consistently been at the forefront of bringing innovative projects to life,” said Clayton.

“Kickstarter's commitment to the games community is evident, and there’s an exciting new momentum around our efforts to provide creators with the tools they need to succeed. I look forward to building upon that foundation to continue meeting the evolving needs of creators and helping them achieve success."

Kickstarter director of outreach Nick Yulman added: "Maggie’s deep industry experience and respected standing make her an ideal leader for our games team. Her background in marketing and sales at Exploding Kittens, and her collaborations with indie creators at Greater Than Games, give her a comprehensive understanding of what it takes to bring games to life.

“It’s striking how beloved she is in the industry – experienced creators and former colleagues have all sung her praises. I'm excited for her to bring a fresh vision to games at Kickstarter, build on our success, and ensure that we remain the premier platform for launching games."