Zynga Chief Creative Officer Mike Verdu Exits to Start New Gaming Co, Backed by Zynga

Zynga’s Chief Creative Officer Mike Verdu may be on his way out the door, but his new online gaming venture will have backing from none other than….ZYNGA.

Without revealing the name of his new venture, Verdu disclosed that Zynga will be a primary investor. 

"I'm very proud of my part in building this remarkable company, especially in growing and nurturing what has become a vibrant community of game designers, producers, and creative leaders," he wrote in reference to Zynga, a company he’s been with since the early days of its existence. "Now, however, it's time for me to try something new. After a lot of soul-searching, I have decided to go back to my roots and start a new company."

In a statement, Zynga CEO Mark Pincus praised Verdu's work at the company and said, "Zynga will be on the ground floor" of Verdu's next venture as an investor in his company.

"Mike has been a good friend to me personally as well as professionally and has been an influential creative leader to us all," Pincus said in a statement. "I'm proud of the legacy that Mike has helped build and the deep bench of creative talent and leaders who will carry the torch and shape the next wave of creativity at Zynga."

Verdu joins a handful of other executives who have since left the struggling games maker.

Advertisement:  Learn more about Camasino.com's patented webcam online poker here (free to play for US residents, real money play in most other countries)

- Aaron Goldstein, Gambling911.com