Kolbe Launchbaugh may not be a name you recognize, but for the past 15 years, he's been climbing the corporate ladder over at SCEA. He started out as a tester and, ever since the first MLB: The Show launched back in 2006, has contributed to the franchise's rise to prominence. Now he's leaving SCEA to take on the position of creative director at EA Sports.

More specifically, Launchbaugh will oversee the Madden franchise and take over the vacancy left by Ian Cummings back in April. In his farewell letter over on Operation Sports, Launchbaugh says he'll officially start at EA on January 9.