Ninjas in Pyjamas undergo big 2020 changes with new COO and HQ

Ninjas in Pyjamas is undergoing a lot of change coming into 2020. 

The Swedish esports organization hired a new chief operating officer, Jonas Gundersen. The former Counter-Strike 1.6 pro, who played under the name “calc,” will will be NiP’s go-to for esports operations and revenue. Before joining the popular CSGO org, Gundersen served as the chief commercial officer for North.

“I think Ninjas in Pyjamas is arguably one of the most iconic brands within gaming, globally. It has been for many years,” Gundersen told The Esports Observer. He went on to describe his new role as his “dream job.” 

For a CSGO veteran like Gundersen, Ninjas in Pyjamas represent how far the Counter-Strike esports scene has grown. Gundersen has been around the game for many years, having notably competed at the World Cyber Games in Korea back in 2003. While the esports industry has continuously grown since, the COO noted that the game and its fans have remained the same. 

“We felt back then this was real. It just took a lot more years than we thought to develop,” he said. 

Gundersen’s plans for Ninjas in Pyjamas include building up the Counter-Strike: Global Offensive scene even more, including the organization’s competitors. This will “build rivalries and storylines” that will entertain fans and viewers for “decades.” Part of this plan includes creating a more structured approach to the scene, along with a “more sound revenue structure.” 

When it comes to NiP specifically, Gundersen stated that the goal is to make the organization self-sufficient, whether that happens in “one, two, or five years.” The business model is also “yet to be determined.” 

Ninjas in Pyjamas has big plans for 2020

It may have only been two days since the New Year, but NiP has more news than just a new COO. Along with hiring Gundersen, Ninjas also announced plans for their new Stockholm headquarters. This news will be revealed in the first quarter of 2020. 

The organization opened the HQ in 2018, complete with a bootcamp, offices, a content studio, and even a spot for viewing parties and events. Fifty NiP employees and players work out of the Stockholm office, including management, social media, and content. 

The Scandanavian-style decor and swanky, sleek architecture give way to a gym, theater, and classroom. This is a stark contrast from their original Swedish office in Lanskrona, which is full of esports gear and seemingly endless monitors and desktops. That’s where NiP’s PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, CSGO, Paladins, and League of Legends teams spend time preparing for major tournaments. 

It’s unclear what changes will come to the Stockholm office in 2020. 

Ninjas in Pyjamas’s CSGO roster going into 2020: 

• Fredrik “REZ” Sterner
• Jonas “Lekr0” Olofsson
• Patrik “f0rest” Lindberg
• Nicolas “Plopski” Gonzalez Zamora
• Simon “twist” Eliasson