Tired of ads? Enjoy an ad-free experience by signing up.
👩‍🍳 How we use AI at Tech in Asia, thoughtfully and responsibly.
🧔‍♂️ A friendly human may check it before it goes live. More news here

Australia NFT firm Immutable hit hard with exec exits, job cuts

Immutable, an Australian cryptocurrency gaming platform, has undergone internal changes in the past year. This includes the resignation of several senior executives and workforce reductions.

The company, founded in 2018, has reduced its employee count by more than a third over the last nine months.

On May 23, 2025, chief financial officer and interim chief commercial officer David Bicknell, along with chief legal officer Ed Bunting, announced their departures.

Earlier, Chief Commercial Officer Jason Suen left the company in August 2024. Chief Operating Officer Gillian Findlay exited in February 2024. Immutable has promoted Tori Brooks to head of operations and plans to appoint James Gordon as head of commercial.

🔗 Source: The Australian Financial Review


🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ Tech industry’s persistently high executive turnover pattern

Immutable’s executive departures reflect a broader pattern in the tech industry, which consistently leads all sectors with a 13.2% average turnover rate.

While the departure of four senior executives might seem alarming, this level of leadership change is characteristic of the tech ecosystem, where even giants like Amazon and Google report median employee tenures of just one year 1.

Executive turnover specifically creates unique organizational challenges, as these departures can significantly impact strategic direction and team stability beyond what’s visible from the outside 2.

The cryptocurrency gaming sector where Immutable operates likely faces even greater talent volatility, as specialized tech segments like computer games experience turnover rates as high as 15.5% – substantially above the already high tech industry average 1.

For context, Immutable’s seven-year retention of its founding team (James and Robbie Ferguson and CTO Alex Connolly) actually demonstrates unusual leadership stability by tech industry standards, where executive teams typically see much more frequent changes.

2️⃣ AI-driven workforce transformation accelerating across tech sector

Immutable’s 33% staff reduction alongside increased AI implementation mirrors a broader technology industry shift toward leaner teams augmented by artificial intelligence.

McKinsey research estimates AI could generate $4.4 trillion in productivity growth across corporate applications, creating powerful financial incentives for tech companies to replace human capital with AI solutions 3.

The specific mention of AI as a factor in Immutable’s staffing decisions aligns with industry projections that 42% of workplace tasks will be fully automated by 2027, with white-collar roles particularly vulnerable to displacement 4.

Stay ahead in Asia’s tech landscape

You've reached your 2 free content limit for the month. Sign up for free to read the full story.

🏄 For casual readers / 👶 Free

Basic

US$0

Free forever

Get instant access to this article and more every month

0 premium content

Unlimited news briefs

5

5 articles

Ad-free reading experience

Just US$0 per day

⌛Sign up in 20s. No payment details needed.

📖 For learners / 👍 Starter

Lite

US$4.92/month

Billed annually at US$59/year

Get instant access to this article and more every month

4

4 premium content

Unlimited news briefs & articles

Ad-free reading experience

Just US$0.17 per day

Cancel anytime

Our subscriber community includes professionals from these companies:

Stay updated on the go with our mobile app.

Get latest insights with smoother, more personalized experience through TIA mobile app.