Executive Board

Jo began her career in the video games industry in the late 1980s, progressing from magazine publishing to marketing roles at Ocean Software and Maxis, where Jo led European publishing for iconic titles like SimCity 2000 and SimFarm.  

After a series of leadership positions in digital startups and Philips Electronics, Jo founded Leg-up Marketing, supporting independent developers – including Frontier Developments.

In 2014, Jo joined Frontier full-time as Marketing Director, building a publishing team to launch Elite Dangerous and transition the studio to self-publishing. Jo established a full-service, in-house marketing team, driving global CRM and digital strategies that led to chart-topping successes with Elite Dangerous and Planet Coaster. Recognised as one of the top 30 women in games in 2016, Jo left Frontier in 2017 for senior roles at Omnicom Media Group, before returning to games with Bossa, Curve Digital and Bastion.

Jo returned to Frontier in August 2025 as Chief Marketing Officer, moving into the role of Chief Executive Officer and Executive Board member in January 2026. Jo champions a player-led approach, integrating audience insights into development. Jo remains an influential industry figure and recent MCV/Women in Games award nominee. 

Alex has over 25 years’ experience in high-growth technology businesses. Alex joined Frontier from Xaar plc (FTSE: XAR), a world leader in industrial inkjet technology, where he was Chief Financial Officer from February 2011.

Prior to this, Alex rose to VP Finance of Cambridge fabless semiconductor company CSR plc during a 10-year period during which CSR listed on the Main Market, and grew significantly both organically and through acquisition. Alex qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Deloitte in Cambridge prior to joining CSR in 2000. 

James has over 30 years' experience at Frontier Developments and has played a key role in the company's growth from independent developer to global games business. Having worked across both game development and business operations, he brings extensive experience of how Frontier creates, delivers and supports its games.

As Chief Operating Officer, James leads Frontier's operational functions, including governance, risk, business continuity, IT, facilities, health and safety, and organisational effectiveness. From 2025 he has chaired Frontier's Executive Board, helping to drive the company's strategic and operational priorities.

Yvonne Dawes is Chief People Officer at Frontier Developments, leading the company's People function and serving as a member of the Executive team. Yvonne is responsible for Frontier's people strategy, including talent acquisition, people partnering, employee engagement, internal communications and organisational development.

Working across the business, she supports leaders in building high-performing teams and ensuring that Frontier's people practices support the company's strategic objectives.

Yvonne is based in Cambridge and works closely with the Executive team on matters relating to culture, organisation design, succession planning and people strategy.

Dan Lazarides joined Frontier in August 2026 as Chief Marketing Officer, bringing over a decade of experience leading marketing teams within games at major studios such as SEGA Europe and Bethesda Softworks. Dan forms part of Frontier’s Executive Board and leads the studio’s publishing and commercial teams across all current and upcoming projects, reinforcing Frontier’s player first approach.

With over 30 years’ experience of designing and leading development teams, Piers joined Frontier as a Game Director in 2017 to build Planet Zoo.  

Piers has gone on to launch numerous other titles in Frontier’s catalogue, both in the capacity of Game Director, and through supporting development teams as Chief Development Officer.

His prior experience includes 13 years at Guerrilla Cambridge a Sony Interactive Entertainment studio where, as Game Director, he collected the 2010 BAFTA in the Handheld Category for Little Big Planet on the PSP.

Jessica joined Frontier in 2020 as Head of Legal and was appointed General Counsel and Company Secretary in August 2022. Jessica is a commercial and corporate lawyer with expertise in legal, IP and regulatory matters within the technology and video games industry.

Jessica leads the Frontier Group's legal affairs, advising on corporate, commercial and licensing matters, as well as compliance and risk management. Prior to Frontier, she was Legal Counsel at Ninja Theory, where she supported its acquisition by Microsoft in 2018, and previously held legal roles at Domino Printing Sciences, PA Consulting Group and Bounty UK.

Jessica trained with Mills & Reeve LLP and qualified as a solicitor in 2012.