Changes in Team Secret Management: Kemal steps down, John Yao appointed CEO

Team Secret have made changes in their management structure only days before the Kiev Major Regional Qualifiers. Kemal Sadıkoğlu, Team Director for the last two years, will be stepping out of position and the organization completely, effective immediately. Team Secret has brought on board John Yao as CEO.

Team Secret has made changes in their management structure and assignments – shifting the Team Director role into a CEO role, with Kemal Sadıkoğlu transitioning out immediately.

Kemal Sadıkoğlu will be transitioning his responsibilities as Director effective immediately, and leaving Team Secret to pursue other interests. We would like to thank Kemal for his contributions to the team during his tenure, and wish him the very best in all his future endeavors.

In his stead Secret have welcomed a newly appointed CEO, John Yao. The official announcement does not reveal any details about Yao, apart from: “John brings seasoned executive experience to the team, an impressive track record of business success, and perhaps most importantly – a passionate devotion to Team Secret’s mission.”

It appears that Yao is the older brother of Team Secret’s Clash of Clans player, George “Jorge” Yao, a product manager at Space Ape Games. A former World No. 1, Jorge Yao was the first Clash of Clans player to break the 4,000-trophy mark and was once sponsored by Kemal Sadıkoğlu. According to New York Times: “a clanmate in Turkey, the 38-year-old son of a business magnate who plays under the name Kemal, took pity on Mr. Yao and offered to become his sponsor, buying his gems. In return, Mr. Yao kept Kemal’s account active for him when Kemal was traveling and couldn’t play”.

George “Jorge” Yao’s older brother, John Yao, is an alumni of the University of Pennsylvania – listed as Principal at Booz & Company (now Strategy&, a subsidiary of PricewaterhouseCoopers) and involved in Management Consulting.

At Team Secret we pride ourselves on being a model organization, championing the industry’s highest principles that require not only competitive fortitude, but management excellence as well. Our founding vision continues to guide everything we do – putting the integrity of the game and the well-being of our players above all else.

The quote seems to be a poignant statement directed at Kemal and his history with the team.

In April 2015, Team Secret made a surprising announcement, naming a Team Director for the group. The position was entrusted to Clash of Clans World No. 1 Kemal Sadıkoğlu, son of Turkish magnate Kahraman Sadıkoğlu, who owns several marine construction and petroleum businesses worth billions. Kahraman Sadıkoğlu entered the international spotlight eleven years ago, when he was kidnapped by terrorists in Iraq, and again six years ago, when one of his yachts was turned into a floating vice den involving underage prostitutes and rich businessmen.

In February 2016, it was reported that Team Secret allegedly owed money to former players and manager. Evany “the_evany” Chang, current manager of OG and ex manager of Team Secret, has accused the Team Secret organization of failing to pay tournament prize money owed from more than a year ago.

Then in October 2016, Team Secret was accused once again for allegedly owing money to their current and former players. Jacky “Eternal Envy” Mao had authored another revealing testament to Team Secret’s business dealings and team dynamics. Former member Rasmus “MiSeRy” Filipsen had also taken up the pen to express his experience, backing up EE and his story.

Team Secret

Team Secret at MDL 2016

Secret were among the first to announce their roster for the 2016 fall season.

During the drop period, Artour “Arteezy” Babaev, Jacky “EternalEnVy” Mao and Sam “Bulba” Sosale parted ways with the team – eventually joining Evil Geniuses, Team NP and Team Liquid, respectively.

The new Secret lineup included three SEA players – former MVP.Phoenix members MP and Forev, and ex-Fnatic player MidOne – as well as two European players and members of the team’s previous roster, Puppey and pieliedie.

Maurice “KheZu” Gutmann replaced Lee “Forev” Sang-don on Team Secret after the team’s failure to qualify for the Boston Major. KheZu made his debut with the team at the ROG Masters Asian tournament.

The team was unstoppable, claiming their second championship title of the new season at the ROG Masters Asian Tournament with a 3:0 victory over Execration in the grand finals.

Team Secret roster:

Clement “Puppey” Ivanov
Johan “pieliedie” Åström
Pyo “MP” No-a
Maurice “KheZu” Gutmann
Yeik “MidOne” Nai Zheng