RPG: Steve Jackson Games’ CEO, Meredith Placko, Is Resigning
Meredith Placko, CEO of Steve Jackson Games, will be stepping down as of April 18th, looking to focus instead on Turbo Dork.
Meredith Placko announced her resignation as CEO of Steve Jackson Games, effective tomorrow, April 18th. According to Board Game Wire, which first broke the story, the move comes “after months of deep reflection.”
Placko’s tenure as CEO at Steve Jackson began two years ago, in 2023, when Placko stepped into the role after Phil Reed’s departure. Under Placko, Steve Jackson Games saw success in the form of the Munchkin Big Box Kickstarter, which raised more than $1.3 million, and the addition of Possum Creek Games as a TTRPG imprint, along with designer and editorial director Jay Dragon joining SJG as lead game designer.
Steve Jackson Games CEO Steps Down To Focus On Turbo Dork
Placko was one of the first big tabletop industry figures to speak out about the negative impact of the Trump tariffs. Since the beginning of the month, countless more have joined in, trying to figure out a way to keep the current US president from erasing decades of growth in the tabletop space over a trade war.
The departure seems sudden, but has been building for a few months, as Board Game Wire reports:
“This decision was not made lightly and came after months of deep reflection. I’m proud of the work I’ve doneand so grateful for the talented people I’ve had the chance to work with. It’s been a meaningful, challenging, and creatively fulfilly chapter in my career.
I remain passionate about this industry, but it is time I turn my attention back to the company my husband and I founded together.”
The company in question, Turbo Dork, is still in the tabletop space. It’s a manufacturer of premium-quality metallic paints, with 80 colors in its arsenal. The move also comes at an interesting time in Placko’s career. She was recently elected to a two-year term representing publishers on GAMA’s board.
Still, with tariffs leaving the industry’s future looking rocky, one can only hope for the best.
Stay tuned for more industry news as it unfolds. Buckle up folks, it’s going to be a bumpy ride.
