Hasbro has promoted Dan Ayoub to President of Wizards of the Coast and Hasbro Digital Games. The 25-year industry veteran will oversee Magic: The Gathering, Dungeons & Dragons, Duel Masters, and Hasbro’s growing digital portfolio when he assumes the role on November 2, 2026. His responsibilities will also include upcoming video games such as Exodus and Warlock.
Dan Ayoub Takes Command of Wizards of the Coast
Ayoub was selected following a search that considered dozens of candidates from inside and outside Hasbro. He becomes the first internal candidate promoted into the leadership position.
Hasbro CEO Chris Cocks cited Ayoub’s understanding of the company’s games, ability to build strong teams, and passion for the franchises as decisive factors in the appointment. Cocks also described the promotion as an example of his commitment to developing talent already working within Hasbro.
Ayoub succeeds John Hight, who moved into an advisory role in September following two years as President of Wizards of the Coast and Digital Gaming.
The appointment places Ayoub in charge of the division during an especially successful period. Hasbro recently reported that Wizards of the Coast and Digital Gaming revenue increased 31% during its third quarter, led by 34% growth for Magic: The Gathering.
Ayoub Helped Revitalize Dungeons & Dragons
Ayoub most recently served as Senior Vice President of Dungeons & Dragons. In that position, he led the franchise across tabletop and digital experiences while helping Hasbro expand one of its most recognizable gaming properties.
He initially joined Wizards of the Coast in 2022 to lead its digital studios. Ayoub later became Senior Vice President of Digital Games, where he expanded the company’s internal studios and international development partnerships.
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His responsibilities continued growing as Hasbro placed a greater emphasis on transforming its tabletop franchises into major digital gaming properties.
Earlier this month, Ayoub helped open Wizards of the Coast Studios in Montréal. The new 35,518-square-foot location will support future Dungeons & Dragons projects and Hasbro’s digital games portfolio, with plans to grow to approximately 200 employees by 2028.
A 25-Year Career Includes Halo
Before joining Wizards, Ayoub spent 11 years at Microsoft. His tenure included leadership positions at 343 Industries, where he worked as an executive producer and studio head on the Halo franchise.
He later became Vice President and General Manager of Certain Affinity, an independent studio that has contributed to major franchises across console and PC gaming.
That background gives Ayoub experience managing established properties with massive fan communities, complicated histories, and expectations formed across multiple generations.
He now faces a similar challenge at Wizards. Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons & Dragons both inspire fierce loyalty, but their audiences remain highly attentive to pricing, product decisions, creative partnerships, digital support, and respect for the artists and designers building their worlds.
A Lifelong Player Will Lead Wizards of the Coast
Ayoub is not approaching the role solely as an executive.
He has reportedly played Dungeons & Dragons with the same group of friends since he was 10 years old. He also began playing Magic: The Gathering during its original 1993 launch year.
That personal history gives him direct experience with the communities he will now lead. It also adds considerable weight to the priorities outlined in his first public statement as president.
Ayoub promised to put fans first, respect the artists and creators responsible for bringing the games to life, and pursue ambitious growth across tabletop and digital platforms.
Those commitments touch several of the most important conversations surrounding Wizards. Fans want the company’s games to grow, but they also want that growth to preserve the creativity, accessibility, and community that made the franchises valuable in the first place.
Wizards of the Coast Continues Expanding Beyond the Tabletop
Ayoub will lead a division increasingly built around connections between physical games, digital platforms, licensed projects, and original video games.
Magic: The Gathering continues expanding through major sets, Universes Beyond collaborations, Magic Arena, and Secret Lair. Dungeons & Dragons remains active across tabletop releases, entertainment, licensing, and video game development.
Hasbro Digital Games is also investing in original titles. Ayoub’s portfolio will include Archetype Entertainment’s science-fiction role-playing game Exodus and Invoke Studios’ Warlock.
His promotion signals that Hasbro wants one leader connecting those efforts rather than treating tabletop and video games as completely separate businesses. Ayoub’s experience across both sides makes him a logical choice for that increasingly integrated strategy.
The new role officially begins November 2. From that point forward, Ayoub will be responsible for protecting some of gaming’s most established worlds while helping Hasbro build whatever comes next.
Do you think Dan Ayoub’s experience makes him the right leader for Wizards of the Coast? What should his first priority be for Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons & Dragons? Which Hasbro franchise deserves the strongest digital expansion? Share your thoughts in the comments or @me.
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