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Sam Gaglani

Executive Vice President of Global Business Development & Strategic Partnerships / Enterprise

Xsolla

Los Angeles, CA, USA

Sam Gaglani

Aldo Garbagnati

Emicapital Group

Sam Gaglani’s Biography

Sam Gaglani serves as the Executive Vice President of Global Business Development and Strategic Partnerships for Enterprise at Xsolla, a position he has held since January 2022.

With over 22 years of experience in the gaming and digital media industry, Sam's career began at Activision as an Associate Producer. During his time there, he contributed to developing and releasing several high-profile games, including Tony Hawk Underground, True Crime 2, and Rome: Total War. He also held significant roles at Blizzard, Pandemic Studios, and Nexon, where he worked on projects like Titan, which evolved into the globally successful game OVERWATCH, Mercenaries 2, Saboteur, Maplestory, and Combat Arms.

As the Executive Vice President of Business Development at Xsolla, Sam is instrumental in driving revenue growth through strategic partnerships. His role involves crafting global operation and product strategies, ensuring that the most innovative ideas in the gaming industry are brought to life. Leading a team of fifteen, Sam oversees strategic deal negotiations with developers and partners,... Sam Gaglani serves as the Executive Vice President of Global Business Development and Strategic Partnerships for Enterprise at Xsolla, a position he has held since January 2022.

With over 22 years of experience in the gaming and digital media industry, Sam's career began at Activision as an Associate Producer. During his time there, he contributed to developing and releasing several high-profile games, including Tony Hawk Underground, True Crime 2, and Rome: Total War. He also held significant roles at Blizzard, Pandemic Studios, and Nexon, where he worked on projects like Titan, which evolved into the globally successful game OVERWATCH, Mercenaries 2, Saboteur, Maplestory, and Combat Arms.

As the Executive Vice President of Business Development at Xsolla, Sam is instrumental in driving revenue growth through strategic partnerships. His role involves crafting global operation and product strategies, ensuring that the most innovative ideas in the gaming industry are brought to life. Leading a team of fifteen, Sam oversees strategic deal negotiations with developers and partners, a key aspect of enhancing Xsolla’s market presence. His close collaboration with internal teams also plays a vital role in driving business growth and ensuring seamless client integration processes.

Sam's commitment to his team's development is a testament to his leadership style. He actively provides feedback and development opportunities, fostering a culture of professional growth and engagement. His extensive network of game developers and publishers and his proven ability to manage multiple priorities and maintain positive relationships with external vendors and clients further highlight his effectiveness and strategic vision in his role. READ MORE VIEW LESS

Sam Gaglani’s Background

Xsolla

Executive Vice President of Global Business Development & Strategic Partnerships / Enterprise

Jan 2022 - Present

Los Angeles, CA, USA

Xsolla is a global financial technology and video game commerce company that connects developers, publishers, and platforms through a broad ecosystem of services. By combining distribution support, go-to-market expertise, and commerce technology, the company helps partners expand reach and grow long-term player engagement.

Xsolla

Vice President of Global Business Development / Enterprise

Jun 2012 - Jan 2022

Los Angeles, CA, USA

Blizzard Entertainment

Manager | Team Culture

Sep 2011 - Jun 2012

Irvine, CA, USA

Blizzard Entertainment is a leading video game developer known for its influential franchises like World of Warcraft and Diablo, which have shaped online gaming culture for years. With polished gameplay, captivating cinematic stories, and a strong foothold in competitive esports, the studio has established itself as one of the most recognized names in the global gaming industry.

Nexon | North America

Content Strategy Producer

Mar 2011 - Sep 2011

El Segundo, CA, USA

While at Nexon, Sam developed and produced Blabber Box, a bi-monthly online entertainment show with over 100,000 fans. He led the creation, filming, and editing of community-focused video content and campaign media. Sam also drove the video distribution strategy across social platforms and YouTube, collaborated with marketing and production teams, managed external creative crews, and oversaw budgeting, invoicing, and financial coordination for the content strategy team.

Pixomondo

Business Development Producer

Dec 2009 - Mar 2011

London, UK

Pixomondo is a visual effects and virtual production studio that specializes in high-quality CGI and immersive settings for film and television projects. The studio combines creative storytelling with real-time technology. With contributions to major productions like Game of Thrones, Pixomondo has played a key role in crafting cinematic visuals through innovative pipelines and collaboration with global teams.

Home:made Events

President

Dec 2001 - Sep 2010

Hollywood, FL, USA

Home:made Events was a high-end event production company that partnered with boutique hotels and entertainment industry clients to design experiences that elevated brand presence and audience engagement. The team specialized in producing and promoting curated events that attracted targeted demographics while creating memorable, high-energy atmospheres.

Pandemic Studios

Team Manager

Sep 2006 - Dec 2008

Los Angeles, CA, USA

At Pandemic Studios, Sam built foundational programs spanning quality of life, wellness, sustainability, and philanthropy, while also partnering with HR during the company’s acquisition. He supported multiple game teams and launches, produced large-scale events, managed freelance creative talent, and oversaw budgets and operations for content initiatives.

Activision

Associate Producer

Jun 2003 - Sep 2006

Santa Monica, CA, USA

At Activision, Sam played a crucial role in delivering four AAA holiday releases by overseeing production from early development through QA, localization, and final submission. He ensured projects stayed on schedule and met quality standards. Additionally, Sam led an award-winning international press demo tour and enhanced team efficiency by prioritizing tasks, managing bug fixes, and facilitating clear communication among teams.

Green Moon Productions

Director | Development

Jan 1997 - Jun 2003

Hollywood, FL, USA

At Green Moon Productions, Sam led the development and production of both studio and independent films, as well as television series, overseeing projects from inception to packaging and distribution. His portfolio included the film Tart and contributions to projects like Man of No Consequence and Part Time Playboy. Additionally, Sam leveraged his relationships with agencies, financiers, and studios to acquire material and bring scripts to life.

Sony Pictures Entertainment

Creative Executive

Jul 1992 - Jan 1997

Culver City, CA, USA

At Red Wagon Productions, a division of Sony Pictures Entertainment, Sam oversaw the tracking of available screenplays while generating story notes and compiling essential creative lists for projects in development. He also supported the company's creative pipeline by fostering relationships with emerging writers and directors, contributing to films such as Hollow Man and Stuart Little.

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Sam Gaglani’s Gallery

Sam Gaglani with the Xsolla Executive Team

Sam Gaglani conducting an interview

Sam Gaglani black &white photo sitting on a couch

Sam Gaglani conducting a panel interview

Sam Gaglani was the host of this panel interview

Sam Gaglani with the Xsolla Executive Team

Sam Gaglani conducting an interview

Sam Gaglani black &white photo sitting on a couch

Sam Gaglani conducting a panel interview

Sam Gaglani was the host of this panel interview

Speaking Engagements

Pocket Gamer Connects Helsinki | The future of D2C in mobile gaming

Panelist

Oct 2025

Helsinki, FI

Pocket Gamer Connects Helsinki delved into the future of direct-to-consumer approaches in mobile gaming. The event showcased emerging trends, tools, and insights designed to help developers connect with players directly.

Pocket Gamer Connects London | What do the Google updates mean for you?

Panelist

Jan 2025

London, UK

Pocket Gamer Connects London is a leading two-day B2B conference for the games industry, bringing together developers, publishers, and experts to network and discuss the latest trends in mobile, PC, console, XR, AI, and web3. One session, titled "What Do the Google Updates Mean for You?", explores recent changes to Google platforms and their implications for developers' strategies, app distribution, and business decisions within the gaming ecosystem.

Sam Gaglani’s Education

UCLA

Business Administration | Political Science/Film