YaLLa Esports, an esports media company and tournament organiser in the MENA region, has announced the promotion of Teemu Koski to Chief Growth Officer (CGO).
Koski, formerly YaLLa’s Vice President of Media Business, claims to have played an instrumental role in delivering the highly successful first season of the YaLLa Compass Circuit, the organisation’s flagship esports initiative.
Klaus Kajetski, CEO of YaLLa Esports, said, “Teemu has been a critical part of our success with YaLLa Compass, proving his ability to deliver an esports event that transcends borders and creates meaningful partnerships.
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Through strategic partnerships and the YaLLa Compass Circuit, the organisation has aimed to set the standard for events and player development across the MENA region. With Koski’s promotion, YaLLa Esports aims to accelerate its global growth and enhance its offerings to fans, players, and partners alike.
“This promotion is a natural next step as we look to double down on our growth plans, including our continued investment of USD 5 million into the esports ecosystem in 2025, as well as our expansion into new territories,” said Kajetski.
Koski brings over a decade of experience as a business leader in esports, having founded and scaled Elisa Esports, Finland’s first international esports business under Elisa Corporation, part of one of the biggest telecoms in the Nordics. He was instrumental in co-creating major esports events, such as the Arctic Invitational and Elisa Masters, and securing a strategic partnership with ESL to integrate Elisa Masters into the ESL Global Circuit. His work in esports has led to collaborations with top-tier organisations such as ESL, PGL, Starladder, and BLAST, as well as global brands including ASUS, Samsung, Red Bull, Monster, and Nokia.
On his new role, Koski said, ““Leading the first season of YaLLa Compass has been an incredibly rewarding experience, and I’m excited to continue this journey in my new role as CGO.
The MENA region is brimming with potential, and YaLLa Esports has already laid the groundwork for tremendous growth. I’m eager to scale the Circuit even further, explore new opportunities for innovation, and help solidify YaLLa’s position as a regional leader in esports.”
In addition to his work with top-tier esports organizations, Koski has a proven track record of collaborating with governmental entities across Europe and MENA to develop gaming and esports strategies that help cities grow their GDP and achieve long-term growth goals.
YaLLa Esports claims that Koski’s expertise in securing multi-million-dollar deals, building long-term partnerships, and driving fan engagement has been key to his success across Europe and MENA.
Under his leadership, the first season of YaLLa Compass amassed 50 million views, 5 million watch hours, and 30 global broadcasts in 15 languages, setting a new standard in MENA esports. His promotion to CGO will empower him to scale the Compass Circuit into new markets, strengthen partnerships, and continue aligning YaLLa’s strategies with market trends.
