FURIA Founder Steps Down as Co-CEO

Jaime Pádua, cofounder of the Brazilian organization, has announced the end of his tenure as an executive at FURIA. He will remain a shareholder, and André Akkari becomes sole CEO.

It was through a long message published on his social media that Jaime Pádua put an end to the speculation: after nine years at the helm, he is stepping down from his executive duties at FURIA. The executive stresses that the decision was voluntary, taken — in his words — "calmly and at the right time" and specifies that he is keeping his stake in the organization.

From an apartment in Uberlândia to a global brand

Back in 2017, Brazilian esports had little structure and a still-immature market. Pádua and his partners rented an apartment in Uberlândia, moved the organization's first Counter-Strike roster in, and entered their first tournaments. "Many said it wouldn't work" he writes today.

Nine years later, according to Pádua, FURIA is the highest-earning organization in the history of Latin America, with nearly $7 million in tournament winnings. He also points to the viewership record recently set by his CS2 team, with almost 2.75 million concurrent viewers — which would make it, in his view, the most-watched match in the discipline's history. The organization now fields teams across more than ten titles.

My dream was never to be irreplaceable

The cofounder highlights the human impact of the journey: players who were able to give their parents a first home or a first car, careers built from nothing. That, he says, is the legacy he is proudest of.

Above all, he justifies his departure with a philosophy — building a company capable of standing without him. "My greatest dream was never to be irreplaceable," he explains, arguing that a founder who leaves without weakening his organization is a founder who did his job well.

Akkari alone at the helm, guerri promoted

On the organizational side, two major moves accompany the announcement. André Akkari, cofounder and until now co-CEO, becomes FURIA's sole CEO. Pádua says he gives him his full support after nine years spent building the organization side by side.

Another notable appointment for the competitive side: Nicholas "guerri" Nogueira, a longtime figure at the organization who moved from head coach of the CS roster to Head of Esports, now takes over as general manager. Pádua says he worked closely on preparing him over the past few years and promises to remain available to support him. Other internal promotions accompany this new chapter.

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Still a shareholder, Jaime Pádua will remain involved in certain projects and relationships built over these nine years, but clearly intends to ease off. "Slowing down, being more present in other parts of my life," is how he sums it up, with a heartfelt thank-you to his wife Michelle.