King president Tjodolf Sommestad to step down as Todd Green takes the reins

King president Tjodolf Sommestad is stepping down after three years and will be replaced in the role by Candy Crush franchise GM Todd Green on June 1st.

The change in leadership follows Sommestad’s decision to take time out from the mobile games industry to spend time with family and "pursue other passion projects". He has worked at King for almost 14 years.

His roles at the company have ranged from VP of competitive games and SVP of the Candy Crush franchise to chief development officer and ultimately company president. Sommestad also led King through its acquisition by Microsoft and its recent 20th anniversary.

Overall, Sommestad has spent over 20 years in the games industry, having previously worked at Jadestone Group through the 2000s.

A new king is crowned

Green’s appointment at King’s next president follows his 12-year tenure at the Candy Crush maker thus far.

Since joining as business performance manager in January 2013, he has progressed through a range of leadership roles such as executive producer of Candy Crush Saga, VP of product and head of London studio, and most recently general manager of the Candy Crush franchise.

In this latest role, held since August 2024, Green has formed a new leadership team to run live games.

"I’m delighted to be starting this new chapter as president of King," said Green.

"Having worked here for the past 12 years, I’ve witnessed first-hand the company’s ability to adapt, innovate and create incredible moments of magic for our 200 million players around the world.

"Huge thanks to Tjodolf for his ongoing support and leadership at King. There is tremendous potential here with our incredible teams, and I’m excited by the opportunities ahead. The mobile games business is young, King has adapted and evolved many times to develop great games for a huge audience, and we are just getting started."

Sommestad commented: "I’ve had an amazing career at King, and it’s been a real privilege to lead as president these past three years. I’m immensely proud of what we have achieved together from celebrating 10 years of Candy Crush Saga, Candy Crush Soda Saga and Farm Heroes Saga to launching Candy Crush Solitaire and joining together with our Microsoft colleagues.

"After overseeing this transition, I’ve decided now is the right moment for me to take some time out of the industry and spend more time with my family. I'm excited to continue to watch King's journey under Todd’s leadership. He is a tremendously talented leader who will continue to drive innovation in our franchises. I wish the talented King team every success."

Xbox president of game content and studios Matt Booty added: "Todd brings a strong track record and deep knowledge of King, having led some of its most iconic game franchises, including Candy Crush.

"The teams and I are excited about what’s ahead with him as president. A heartfelt thank you to Tjodolf for his outstanding leadership and the lasting impact he’s made on King’s success."

We spoke with Todd Green last year about how Candy Crush Saga has remained a success for so many years.