Ex-Activision Blizzard Exec Named SVP of Brand Partnerships with BLAST

Former Activision Blizzard executive Steve Rossi has been named the new Senior Vice President of Brand Partnerships at esports tournament organizer BLAST. 

Rossi has prior experience not only with Activision Blizzard but also with the NFL and Univision Communications. 

He will now be responsible for global sponsorship sales and will also work with partner management. 

More About Rossi and His Statement

Just before Rossi joined BLAST, he was involved with PlayVS, which is a North American collegiate sports platform. He held a senior partnerships role there. 

As mentioned, he was at Activision Blizzard, where he helped expand their esports and worked with partners across North America, APAC, and EMEA. 

Now, Rossi, based in New York, will work with BLAST partners, gaming publishers, and BLAST teams to create new experiences for fans and forge new partnerships. 

Looking Back At Blast in 2025

As Rossi joins BLAST, he's joining a company that's been expanding in the esports presence, including hosting events at various locations. 

In 2025, BLAST hosted 15 events across eight countries. These events included some, like BLAST.tv Austin Major in Austin, Texas (Counter-Strike 2) and BLAST R6 Munich Major in Germany (Rainbow Six Siege X). 

Additionally, BLAST had partnerships with Red Bull, Alienware ahead of the Austin Major, and Underdog Fantasy. 

In 2026, events will take place in Hong Kong, Texas, Rotterdam, and more. 

“As BLAST continues to grow its international footprint and evolve its partnership offering, Steve’s leadership will be instrumental in driving sustainable revenue growth and long-term value creation," said  Leo Matlock, Chief Business Officer at BLAST.