The boat has been rocked a tad at ENCE, one of Finland’s premier esports organizations, after Mika Kuusisto has confirmed his departure as CEO after seven years.
Kuusisto announced his decision in a series of posts on X on Monday evening, marking the conclusion of his time guiding one of Finland’s most prominent esports brands.
The founder of Propagate Oy has been at ENCE since 2018, the year in which ENCE’s players broke a number of records. His leadership built on that success and coincided with key developments in the competitive gaming landscape, particularly in Counter-Strike, where ENCE achieved notable success on the international stage.
Kuusisto said he is “incredibly thankful” for his experience leading the organization.
What Kuusisto’s departure means for ENCE
After 7+ years as the CEO of @ENCE, I’ve decided to step down from my role.
— Mika Kuusisto (@miqaqu) June 15, 2026
Looking back, I’m incredibly thankful. We’ve celebrated amazing highs together, and we’ve had to grind hard through the tougher times. I’ve valued every minute of the ride. 🧵👇 1/4
The esports industry is no stranger to sweeping organization changes, which makes ENCE’s leadership change a bit of a surprise – but certainly not a shock. It’s a surprise because the team is competing strong across multiple esports titles but – hey – change happens.
What’s more, Kuusisto has seen a lot during his time at ENCE, with the organization going through various competitive cycles and roster changes. It’s done well to maintain its presence in premier tournaments, something it’s had to do while navigating the evolving business landscape of professional esports.
And while it’s had its up, it’s also had its down, with the team losing 13 out of 15 matches at one stage in 2020.
Kussisto has decided that now is clearly the right time to try something different. ENCE gave him his first role in the world of esports, so questions remain as to whether he’ll stay in the industry or head elsewhere. The fact that he wrote in his post “seven years is a long time in esports” suggests his future may indeed lie elsewhere.
And while esports at large is no stranger to changes, Kuusisto’s departure marks a significant transition for ENCE, which now needs to find a capable successor equal to the departing CEO.
Industry context and next steps
Finnish esports might not be the biggest in the world but it continues to punch above its weight on the internal stage. ENCE is one of the country’s flagship organizations, and it’s safe to say that Kuusisto’s leadership helped maintain that position throughout his tenure.
No details have yet been released regarding his successor, what the timeline looks like or whether ENCE will restructure their leadership roles. We expect more information about interim leadership arrangements and the search process for a permanent CEO in the coming weeks.
For now, ENCE’s next major competitive appearances should provide a few early insights into how the organization is functioning during this transitional period.
