Join Our Journey
TOP of the game
Commercial Talent & Business Development Services
Global Experience Across Video Games, Mobile Games, Toys & Licensing.
Some of the amazing companies I have worked with
.png/:/cr=t:0%25,l:0%25,w:100%25,h:100%25/rs=h:100,cg:true)
.png/:/cr=t:0%25,l:0%25,w:100%25,h:100%25/rs=h:100,cg:true)
About Top Of The Game
Who Am I?
Hi, I’m Chris — a Yorkshire lad who’s turned his passion for creative entertainment industries into a career helping companies worldwide grow and succeed.
I used to be Co-Owner & Director at Aardvark Swift, but now I’m all about building something new with Top Of The Game (T.O.T.G.), where I focus on global commercial talent and business development growth.
People know me as the commercial guy — and it’s because I genuinely love helping studios find the right people to level up their teams.
Over the past 10 years, I’ve built long-lasting relationships across various industries, from indie start-ups to AAA giants, delivering strategic solutions that make a real difference.
I thrive on creating innovative models — whether retained, embedded, contingent, or subscription — to help build lasting partnerships and achieve their goals.
Whether it’s securing C-suite partnerships or top talent around the world, my focus is always on building trust, delivering value, and making the process smooth and honest.
I believe in a human, straightforward approach — no jargon, no pushiness — just honest advice, industry insight, and a genuine desire to help you succeed.
Exciting updates are coming soon, so feel free to contact us if you want to join me on this journey.
My Mission
I’m on a mission to shape the future of the video games, mobile, and toys & licensing industries by connecting exceptional commercial talent with the companies driving creativity, innovation, and growth. At T.O.T.G., I believe that the role of a commercial consultant goes far beyond just filling positions — it’s about building long-term partnerships, understanding the unique DNA of each business, and supporting people as they take their next big step.
Over the years, I’ve scaled client accounts into multi-year partnerships that deliver consistent six-figure revenue growth. I design and close innovative commercial models — retained, embedded, contingent, and subscription — all tailored to meet the specific needs of my clients.
I’ve forged C-suite relationships with top publishers, developers, and service providers across every continent. Representing businesses globally at Gamescom, GDC, Pocket Gamer Connects, Develop:Brighton, B.L.E, and Toy Fair has helped me build a deep industry network.
I’m skilled in sales pipeline development, CRM optimization, and board-level stakeholder engagement to drive sustainable business growth.
At Top Of The Game, I take a hands-on, honest approach — offering genuine advice, deep insight, and a clear focus on finding the right fit, not just the quickest one. If you’re curious about how we can collaborate, stay tuned as our services are coming soon!
Whether you’re an ambitious start-up or a global brand, I’m here to support your journey with care, clarity, and a commitment to lasting success. This is about helping companies grow, helping people thrive, and being part of something bigger.
My Expertise
I have collaborated with gaming studios, toy companies, licensing brands, and entertainment businesses worldwide to find the commercial talent that truly levels up their business. From ambitious start-ups to iconic AAA studios, I cover the full commercial spectrum: Community & Social Media, Brand, Product & Trade Marketing, Business Development, Sales & E-commerce, Data Analytics & BI, Legal & Licensing (up to Director level), PR, Comms & Editorial, and Senior Leadership — CEO, CMO, VP, GM, CCO & more.
Basically: If you make games or work in entertainment and need top-tier commercial talent or business development/partnership experience — I’m your guy. If you are top-tier talent and want a role worth waking up for — also your guy.
Over the past decade, I’ve built specialist teams, long-term partnerships, and high-performing client accounts. I’ve: • Scaled client accounts into multi-year partnerships, delivering consistent six-figure revenue growth • Designed and closed innovative commercial models — retained, embedded, contingent, subscription — tailored to client needs • Forged C-suite relationships across studios, toy, licensing, and entertainment companies worldwide • Represented clients and the business at Gamescom, GDC, Pocket Gamer Connects, Develop:Brighton, BLE, and Toy Fair.
Need a talent partner — and someone with a huge bag of biz dev skills — who actually gets your industry? Or just fancy a chat about your next move… or next deal? Get in touch! My services are coming soon, so don’t hesitate to contact us to discuss how I can help you find the right opportunities or talent for your business. Remember, with T.O.T.G., you have a partner who understands your needs.
Top of the game Services
Talent Quest
Talent Quest is our dedicated permanent placement service for the video games, mobile, and toys & licensing sectors, with exciting new features coming soon. We partner closely with you to find the ideal commercial candidates across all levels — from emerging talent to senior leaders in T.O.T.G. With a thorough, search-driven approach, we focus on delivering quality hires that align with your company’s goals and culture. For more information or to discuss your needs, please contact us. Our fee is a straightforward 20% of the candidate’s gross annual base salary, payable upon successful placement.
Power-Up
Power-Up Placements is a premium, retained recruitment service for critical commercial roles within video games, mobile, and toys & licensing sectors. Our process follows a clear three-stage approach—defining the role, sourcing candidates, and final placement—ensuring thoroughness and quality at every step. Correspondingly, the fee is paid in three stages aligned with these milestones, providing transparency and shared commitment throughout the search. This service is ideal for senior or hard-to-fill roles, delivering dedicated resources and expert support to help you secure the best talent with confidence. Stay tuned, as our new features are coming soon! If you have any questions or need assistance, feel free to contact us. Additionally, our T.O.T.G. program offers even more tailored support for your recruitment needs.
Nexus
Introducing a flexible recruitment service that acts as an extension of your team, providing ongoing support across multiple roles, with options that are coming soon.
1. Monthly Retainer
You pay a fixed monthly fee for dedicated recruitment resources who manage sourcing, screening, and coordinating candidates for your open roles. The number of roles worked on can be capped or unlimited.
2. Success Bonus
A success bonus is payable for each candidate hired, either as a flat fee or a reduced percentage of their base salary (usually 5–10%). This is paid when the candidate starts or shortly after the offer is accepted.
3. Terms
The initial term is typically 3 or 6 months, renewable by agreement.
Notice period of around 30 days applies.
Roles covered are agreed upfront and reviewed regularly.
Exclusivity on working roles.
This service gives you ongoing recruitment support with flexible fees and clear outcomes.
Agency Connect
Expanding our reach with trusted recruitment experts is essential, especially when a vacancy falls outside our core expertise. In such cases, we leverage our Partner Network. We introduce the role to the right partner, ensuring it’s handled by the best fit for that vacancy. You benefit from seamless service continuity and expert focus, while we receive a small percentage of the success fee as a referral commission. If you have any questions, please contact us for more information. This way, you get the talent you need, without compromise or gaps — all managed transparently and professionally under T.O.T.G.
Commercial Growth Specialist
As your dedicated Commercial Growth Specialist, I represent your company at key industry events to generate leads, close deals, and expand your business network! By leveraging extensive industry connections and business development experience, I maximize your opportunities globally, enabling you to focus on your core operations. With a vast industry network and a proven business development track record, this service acts as an extension of your company at key industry moments, driving tangible results and forging valuable connections. If you're interested in learning more about how T.O.T.G. can enhance your presence at these events, please contact us.
Ideal For:
- Publishers seeking new licensing opportunities.
- Development studios expanding partnerships.
- QA, art, marketing, and PR agencies looking to scale business.
- Any company seeking to leverage industry event presence without dedicating internal resources.
Working with clients and candidates across the globe
From the USA and Canada to China, Spain, France, the UK, Russia, Australia, Dubai, Brazil, Italy, Sweden, and Germany — T.O.T.G. is here to connect global talent with opportunity.