Corporate: Esports Mogul recruits Canva's co-founder; shares up 40pc

Cameron Adams, co-founder of Canva, is joining the board of esports tournament platform Esports Mogul (ASX:ESH).

Adams co-founded the graphic design service in 2012 which is now valued at $US3.5 billion ($5.1 billion).

Prior to that he ran his own design agency, working for clients including Atlassian and TEDx. He joins Mogul as a non-executive director today as the company moves to monetisation.

Esports said Adams’ experience in scaling technology businesses would be an asset to the company.

“Cameron’s experience will be a massive benefit for the Mogul team, providing invaluable insight and guidance in their pursuit of making Mogul the premier online esports destination for gamers, fans, teams, influencers publishers and organisers,” chief strategy officer Mick O’Kane said.

Mogul boss Gernot Abl, Cameron Adams and Mogul’s chief strategy officer Mick O’Kane (Pic: EsportsMogul)

Adams endorsed the company and expressed confidence in its future.

“Their product is unparalleled within the esports market and I look forward to helping the team continue to improve it and grow the monetisation opportunities that have arisen from the launch of Mogul’s Branded Hubs earlier this year,” he said.

Adams will replace George Lazarou on the board, but Lazarou will remain chief financial officer and company secretary.

Shares in Mogul rose as much as 40 per cent with this morning’s news, after stagnating for several months.

In other ASX corporate news today:

Middle Island Resources (ASX:MDI) welcomed major mining investor Stephen Copulos to its register. He is leading a $1m capital raising – having committed to invest at least 50 per cent across multiple tranches.

Two directors have left digital printing and marketing company Ovato (ASX:OVT). Matthew Bickford-Smith and Terry Sinclair departed this morning reportedly after discussions with other shareholders.

Michael Hannan is now chairman and said this marked the final phase of the integration of IPMG, which Ovato bought in 2017. Hannan was previously chairman of IPMG and his family is Australia’s 17th wealthiest, according to BRW.

Regional Express (ASX:REX) has bought a pilot academy at Ballarat. The academy has 140 cadets under training and has customers including Hainan Airlines and Scoot. The combined size of the academy and Rex’s existing academy at Wagga Wagga makes it one of the largest pilot training providers in Australia.