Why Skillz Tapped a Financial Powerhouse for Its Board

In a move that signals the mobile gaming platform’s growing ambitions in financial strategy, Kevin Chessen, the co-founder of investment services firm BTIG, has been appointed to Skillz’s Board of Directors. Chessen will take a seat on the Audit Committee, bringing his three decades of capital markets expertise to the table.

From Wall Street to the Gaming Arena

Chessen’s track record speaks volumes. Before joining Skillz, he was an advisor at Argonaut Investments, which manages roughly 40 shopping centers throughout the Western U.S. His Wall Street credentials run deep—he co-founded BTIG and its predecessor Baypoint Trading back in 2002, where he also served on the Global Operating Committee. Before that, he led listed trading at Banc of America Securities, headed Asian equity trading at Merrill Lynch, and worked as a senior trader at S.G. Warburg.

With a Bachelor of Arts in business economics from UC Santa Barbara, Chessen represents exactly the kind of seasoned financial mind that scaling entertainment tech companies need when navigating complex markets and investor relations.

What This Means for Skillz

Andrew Paradise, CEO of Skillz, framed the appointment as a strategic win: the platform needed someone who understands institutional finance at the highest level. For Chessen’s part, he sees Skillz as a true disruptor—the company hosts billions of casual esports tournaments annually across its mobile games platform, reaching millions of players globally.

The addition underscores that Skillz isn’t just about game development anymore. As the company expands its competitive gaming ecosystem, having financial leadership that’s navigated major trading floors, capital raises, and portfolio operations becomes crucial. Chessen’s expertise in audit and financial oversight could help the platform strengthen its corporate governance as it aims to build what it calls “the home of competition for all.”