Square Enix marketing VP Karl Stewart leaves the company

Karl Stewart, vice president of strategic marketing at Square Enix for North America and Europe, is leaving the publisher today after eight years with the company, he announced on his Tumblr page.

"It has been an unbelievable ride over the last eight years," said Stewart. "Square Enix is an amazing company, whether you work for one of its studios or publishing arms, or if you're thinking of joining, this company has given me the opportunity to grow and do what I love to do best, work in [a] creative and ridiculously talented company at the heart of the video game industry."

Stewart is departing for Burbank, Calif.-based Petrol Advertising, where he is taking the position of vice president of brand development and strategic partnerships. During his career at Eidos Interactive — and at Square Enix, after the Japanese company acquired Eidos in April 2009 — Stewart worked with Petrol on marketing campaigns for Batman: Arkham Asylum, Tomb Raider (screenshot above) and Thief.

Stewart's career at Eidos began in March 2006 as a graphic designer for Tomb Raider: Legend. He later served as a creative director and North American director of marketing at the publisher, before becoming global brand director at Square Enix subsidiary Crystal Dynamics in October 2009. Stewart also worked as the head of North American marketing for the Tomb Raider franchise and served as the brand director on Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light. In all, Stewart's career at Eidos, Crystal Dynamics and Square Enix included credits on more than 25 games.

"But by far," he said, "the crowning glory of my time at Square Enix has been working at Crystal Dynamics and being a big part of rebooting the Tomb Raider franchise. The opportunity to be a part of something as special as that game and around so many talented colleagues in Crystal Dynamics is something that I will remember for the rest of my career."