Luxury fashion and lifestyle mobile game DREST has announced the appointment of Daniel Svärd, who will join Founder and co-Chief Executive Officer Lucy Yeomans and her co-Founder and Chair Graham Edwards.
Svärd joins DREST with over two decades of experience in gaming platforms, having recently been the GM of Candy Crush Soda Saga, the second largest game of video game developer and publisher, King.
Svärd, who has held senior positions at Betfair and Bwin, brings considerable leadership, business and technology acumen. His expertise includes wider commercial company strategy, business performance and product development. Svärd is a passionate leader, committed to enabling and supporting the teams he works with to deliver excellent results. He will work closely with leading luxury content strategist Yeomans, who in turn will focus on DREST’s strategic product, partnerships, brand communications and creative development.
Svärd joins DREST at a pivotal moment, following a £15 million investment round announced last year, and as the company prepares to roll out a new and highly improved version of its current game in October 2024, which includes some groundbreaking features that will reinforce its prominent status within the fashion gaming ecosystem. Through a highly-curated selection of content and unparalleled access, the new product proposition transports players into the often exclusive worlds of luxury fashion, beauty and lifestyle, offering them a unique way to interact with real brands and products they love; experience real-life events in-game and co-create content, making them an integral part of the game’s storytelling.
With an already hyper-engaged and hyper-active player base, DREST will work closely with its luxury brand partners to offer them a platform and a unique experience to expand their reach to international audiences who adore fashion and styling.
Lucy Yeomans commented: “I am delighted to welcome Daniel to DREST at such an exciting time for the company. Over the past couple of months, we met with extraordinary candidatesfrom all around the world but Daniel’s unique leadership qualities and expertise stood out. His gaming experience, motivational skills and strong belief in and passion for the DREST vision made him the perfect candidate. I look forward to working with him to launch the new version of DREST in October and take the luxury fashion and gaming space to an exciting next level.”
Daniel Svärd said: “I am so happy to join Lucy and the team. There is a clear market opportunity for DREST, and with more exciting new functionalities and additional proprietary technology coming later this year, the game will further cement its unique positioning of opening up the exclusive worlds of luxury fashion to everyone, everywhere. I really look forward to working with the teams to help DREST achieve itsfull potential and deliver this new game to the world.”
In addition to Svärd’s appointment, Chris Wright also joins DREST this month in the role of Interim
Chief Technology Officer, replacing Martin Robaszewski who left the business last December. Wright, a highly experienced technology business consultant with almost 30 years of career in gaming, was initially brought on board to work with the game teams to look at how to heighten delivery and pace at this crucial point in the business’ trajectory. Wright will remain with DREST for the next twelve months while the new game launches globally