Xsolla is a global video game commerce company that helps game developers and publishers fund, market, distribute and monetise their games globally. As an innovative leader in game commerce, Xsolla’s mission is to solve the inherent complexities of global distribution, marketing and monetisation. Chris Hewish, Chief Strategy & Communications Officer at Xsolla, discusses the importance of empathy in the workplace and the areas of investment he is noticing in the industry.
Describe your current job role.
As Chief Strategy & Communications Officer at Xsolla, I drive cross-functional initiatives that span game technologies, financial strategy, long-term planning and organisational leadership. My career bridges the worlds of interactive entertainment and strategic innovation, with leadership roles at industry-defining companies such as Activision, DreamWorks and Skydance. At each stop, I’ve led large high-performing teams and directly contributed to the success of more than 50 games. Today at Xsolla, I focus on shaping the company’s strategic direction while fostering collaboration across teams to deliver scalable, global impact for partners and creators alike.
What would you describe as your most memorable achievement?
One of my most memorable achievements has been championing the development and global expansion of Xsolla Web Shop. Over the past four years, it has grown into a leading solution in the industry, powering over 500 web shops across a wide range of game genres and studio sizes. From the beginning, I recognised the transformative potential of web shops as a way for developers and publishers to generate revenue outside of traditional app store ecosystems.
I’ve worked to position Web Shop not just as a product, but as a strategic shift; one that empowers game-makers to build direct relationships with their players, retain more of their revenue and operate with greater independence. Through consistent advocacy, product evolution and cross-functional collaboration, we’ve helped redefine how the industry thinks about monetisation and player engagement at a global scale.
What makes this achievement especially meaningful is its lasting impact. It’s not just about the growth metrics but about changing the narrative and opening up new opportunities for creators; giving them more control over their business models in a way that better serves both the industry and the players.
What style of management philosophy do you employ with your current position?
In my current role at Xsolla, I apply a management philosophy grounded in strategic clarity, structured creativity and empathetic leadership. I believe the most effective teams are those aligned by purpose and passion, not just process. To that end, I create frameworks that provide direction while encouraging autonomy, allowing individuals and teams to innovate confidently within clear, strategic boundaries.
Communication plays a central role in how I lead. I take a multi-dimensional approach – tailoring messages across visual, written and verbal formats – to ensure clarity, consistency and connection across globally distributed teams. This not only reinforces alignment but builds a shared sense of momentum and ownership.
Equally important is empathy. I place a high value on understanding the human dynamics behind performance. In a fast-moving, constantly evolving industry, people need to feel supported, empowered and inspired. My goal is to cultivate a culture where creativity, accountability and resilience can thrive in equal measure.
What do you currently identify as the major areas of investment in your industry?
One of the most important is direct-to-consumer commerce, where we focus on expanding Web Shop solutions and alternative payment methods. In fact, Xsolla Web Shop has been at the forefront of the industry for over four years, powering 500+ web shops worldwide across diverse game genres and scales.
User acquisition and retention remain top priorities as the industry grows more competitive. We are investing in tools that help developers better engage and retain players through data-driven insights. Lastly, while still evolving, Web3 and Blockchain technology present exciting opportunities for digital asset utilisation and new monetisation models. We’re closely monitoring this space and investing in solutions – like Xsolla ZK – that can enhance the gaming experience while providing real value to developers and players alike.
If you could go back and change one career decision, what would it be?
If I could revisit one career decision, it would be choosing stability over risk early on. I passed on an opportunity to join a small, innovative team working on what would later become a major shift in interactive media. At the time, the path felt uncertain, so I opted for a more established role, one that offered security but limited creative stretch.
That experience taught me that growth often lives on the other side of discomfort. Some of the most rewarding moments in my career have come from taking smart, calculated risks. It’s a lesson I carry forward and now try to instil in others: don’t shy away from the unknown if the vision is strong.
What’s your go-to productivity trick?
My go-to productivity approach is simple: I focus on making at least one meaningful step forward on each key project every day. With multiple initiatives moving in parallel, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the scale of the end goals. So instead of getting caught up in the big picture all at once, I concentrate on consistent, incremental progress.
It’s about momentum – chipping away at complexity one step at a time. That daily discipline not only keeps projects advancing, but it also creates a sense of clarity and control, even when juggling competing priorities. Over time, those small wins compound into major progress without the burnout that comes from trying to tackle everything at once.
