Finnish video game entrepreneur Ilkka Paananen, the CEO and co-founder of Supercell, the mobile gaming company behind Clash of Clans, will be honored with the BAFTA Fellowship at the BAFTA Games Awards with Google Play on Friday, April 17.
“The BAFTA Fellowship, the highest accolade bestowed by BAFTA, celebrates exceptional individuals who have driven innovation, creativity, and positive change in the screen arts, including games, over the course of their career,” the British Academy highlighted.
“Credited with building one of the most successful mobile games companies, Ilkka co-founded Supercell in 2010,” BAFTA said. “Under his leadership, Supercell’s innovative ‘small team’ philosophy has produced iconic mobile blockbusters, including Clash of Clans, Clash Royale, and Brawl Stars. The company is known for its strong culture of trust, open communication and effective collaboration with partners. Across the years, and despite industry challenges, Supercell has thrived with handheld hits and bold investment in new games.”
Said Paananen: “Receiving the BAFTA Fellowship is an incredible honor. Looking at the names of previous Fellows, I see so many of my personal heroes – people whose work has inspired me and who I continue to look up to. Being included in their company is something I never could have imagined. Throughout my career, I have been extremely fortunate. But my greatest fortune, by far, has been the privilege of working with amazingly talented and passionate game developers over the past 25 years. They are the ones who create the magic. This award truly belongs to each and every one of them.”
Jane Millichip, CEO of BAFTA, said: “It is a real privilege to honor Ilkka with the BAFTA Fellowship this year. A visionary leader in games, he has built a globally influential company while championing creative collaboration and trust at every level. His deep respect and commitment to nurturing emerging talent and his ongoing support for young people reflect the very best of BAFTA’s values.”
Beyond Supercell, Ilkka supports emerging founders as an investor and mentor through his organization Illusian. He also co-founded the Ilkka Paananen Foundation in 2015 to advance social and mental well-being among children, young people, and families.
Past BAFTA Fellowship honorees in the gaming space include the likes of Kingdom Hearts series composer Yoko Shimomura, former Sony/PlayStation executive Shuhei Yoshida, gaming executive Siobhan Reddy, Tim Schafer, the designer best known for the LucasArts cult classics Full Throttle and Day of the Tentacle, and Grand Theft Auto publisher Rockstar Games.
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