The end of February 2026 seems to be a busy time for the executive side of several video game publishers and developer studios, as Ubisoft recently announced new leadership to head the Assassin’s Creed franchise.
As Assassin’s Creed nears its 20th anniversary in 2027, three longtime developers on numerous AC titles will lead the franchise going forward, with the trio being Martin Schelling, Jean Guesdon, and Francois De Billy.
This comes just days after Xbox announced the retirement of Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer and the appointment of his successor, Asha Sharma.
Unlike Sharma, however, these Ubisoft executives have a long and storied history with the video game publisher and Assassin’s Creed in general, often dating back to the early days of the AC franchise.
The New Yet Familiar Leaders of Assassin’s Creed
Martin Schelling was recently appointed as Head of Brand for Assassin’s Creed and will oversee the strategy and long-term development of the franchise, but his history with Ubisoft dates all the way back to 2004 with Prince of Persia: Warrior Within.
Schelling served as the art production manager for Warrior Within and later went on to work as a level artist for Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones and as art production manager for 2008’s Prince of Persia reboot before eventually working on Assassin’s Creed Revelations as a producer.
While Schelling’s AC journey began with the end of Ezio Auditore’s, he would later go on to work on over 10 AC titles, with him recently serving as chief production officer for Assassin’s Creed Shadows.
Jean Guesdon was recently appointed as Head of Content and will oversee the creative direction for the franchise, but his history with Ubisoft can be traced all the way back to 2007, when he served as a production coordinator for the first Assassin’s Creed.
Since then, Guesdon has worked on over 12 AC titles, with him notably serving as a writer and creative director for both Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag and Assassin’s Creed Origins, two of the most critically acclaimed AC games ever made.
Most of Guesdon’s video game career has been spent working on the AC franchise, but he did additionally work as a brand content manager for Soulcalibur V, which notably featured Ezio as a guest fighter.
Jean Guesdon was recently appointed as Head of Content and will oversee the creative direction for the franchise…
Francois de Billy was recently appointed as Head of Production Excellence and will oversee and support the production of the AC franchise, but his history with Ubisoft can be traced back to 2002 with Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell.
Here, Billy served as Splinter Cell‘s lead modeler, but he would also begin his AC journey alongside Guesdon in 2007’s Assassin’s Creed as a production manager and went on to work on 12 AC games.
Notably, Billy worked as production director for Assassin’s Creed Origins and Assassin’s Creed Valhalla before joining Schelling as a global senior production director for Shadows.
‘Several’ Assassin’s Creed Games, Two Far Cry Games in Development
Ubisoft has also revealed the Rainbow Six Siege’s daily player count.
- Released
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March 20, 2025
- ESRB
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Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language
- Developer(s)
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Ubisoft Quebec
