Sanya Thomas Departs EA Mythic
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I regret to announce that as a result of a mutually agreed parting of the ways, Sanya Weathers is leaving Electronic Arts. While this will result in a change to the best community team in the industry, there will be no disruptions to our games or our community. Richard will continue to spread Waaagh! amidst the growing Warhammer community. Jeremy is flying the banner for UO as they prepare for a Kingdom Reborn. Parizad has been a welcome addition to our team in the last few months working on The Sims Online and Dark Age of Camelot. Since Missy will be out on maternity leave for a while, to help cover we take this opportunity to welcome Joanne to the community team. Joanne has been playing MMO's since '97 and was an outstanding member of our "team lead" group for DAoC.
Since Sanya herself didn't announce the departure, one would assume she didn't plan on leaving and may have even been let go by EA Mythic. She did take some time to answer a few questions at Warcry, but it doesn't really shed any light on the situation:
Q: Typically, when people leave a long held job as a mutual decision, there is an overlap period where they train replacements and take care of affairs. Obviously, this was a lot more sudden. Why was that?
A: You've been a reporter for almost as long as I've been a community weenie, except for that part where you were leading your own game. And for all that time you've asked the best questions that I can't answer.
However, for the record, my departure could have been abrupt or prolonged, and it wouldn't matter that much. I have long said that my team was so good that any one of them could have been a community director anywhere else.
- Missy Hatch left temporarily for maternity leave on April 30, but she is the heart of the Camelot Herald. She was also my right arm, just a brilliant person.
- Richard Duffek has been the feedback systems designer since he came on two years ago, and he's been doing a lot of the WAR Herald design as well. (I'm fighting the temptation to make a really mean joke here, because sassing me was his favorite hobby; I can't believe I'm passing up the chance to get the last word.)
- Jeremy Dalberg was already a professional community weenie when she joined my little family, but even so wildly exceeded expectations in a situation that anyone else would have found... daunting.
- On of my main regrets in leaving so suddenly is that I won't get better acquainted with Parizad Parav. She has only been on the team since January, but she is a natural community person with amazing instincts for the right word or phrase.
I feel that these talented professionals will do a wonderful job, and that I can move on to whatever the future holds. I loved being the community overlord for EA Mythic, but now it's time for my minions to shine.
Good luck in your future pursuits, Sanya. You're one of the few community coordinators I looked forward to talking with at E3 each year.
