Crusader Kings 3 was released by Paradox Interactive in 2020, but the CEO is stepping down from her position with the company. Although Paradox has been gaining traction with gamers, it is undergoing some big changes.
Paradox Interactive CEO Ebba Ljungerud has stepped down from her duties with the company effective immediately. According to an official statement, Ljungerud will continue working with the company despite the fact that she resigned. This is being done with the intent to make ensure a proper transition of leadership and will minimize the impact on other members of the team.
Ljungerud's departure as CEO of Paradox Interactive is apparently due to her views differing from the company's intended strategy for the foreseeable future. Based on the official statement, the departure was cordial between the two parties and may lead to the "good handover" that the company is anticipating. Paradox Interactive's strategy may be changing, but neither the company Chairmen nor Ljungerud have suggested what the new strategy is.
According to the Chairman of the Board of Paradox Interactive, Hakan Sjunnesson, the company regrets Ljungerud's decision to leave. "During her leadership, the organization, player base, and our game projects have been strengthened and grown which give the company a strong base for future growth," said a statement from Sjunnesson. The official company statement only had nice things to say about Ljungerud's leadership and work before wishing her well in whatever future endeavors she has planned.
Although she has departed her role with Paradox Interactive, Ljungerud has notably taken the company to new heights since it was founded in 1998. During her time with the company, Ljungerud's leadership helped bring some of the company's big strategy games to console, showed off Victoria 3, and launched the highly acclaimed Crusader Kings 3. Despite it being a sequel to the follow-up of the original Crusader Kings, Paradox Interactive was able to reach a broader audience with this 2020 release.
Ljungerud's duties as CEO will be tackled by Fredrik Wester moving forward. Wester has officially taken up the mantle of CEO, but it's expected that Ljungerud will work with him in order to effectively bring him up to speed. Wester has previously served as CEO of Paradox for several years before stepping down in 2018 around the time Paradox released Surviving Mars. Wester has stepped down as a Chairman of the board in order to reprise his role as CEO.
Fans of the company may not know what to expect from the changing leadership. Because Ljungerud and Fredrik Wester are working on a proper transition of power, players may not notice any changes to their favorite games and franchises from Paradox. Both Ljungerud and the Paradox Interactive board spoke positively of Ljungerud's time as CEO and she may wind up in another gaming company in time.