Chicago app maker Eight Bit Studios has named its first-ever CEO in its 12-year history, elevating a leader internally to the company's top job.
Eight Bit promoted Heather Brown to the role of chief executive officer. Brown joined Eight Bit nine years ago as a project manager, before being named the company's first director of project management in 2017. She was then quickly promoted to the company's executive management team as a managing partner.
Now as the app and website development firm's first CEO, Brown will look to lead Eight Bit into its next phase of growth.
"We've been doing great for many years, but now as we’re looking ahead to the growth of Eight Bit, [the company decided] it's a crucial next step to have someone step into this role," Brown said. "My most important thing as I step into this role is immersing myself in every part of Eight Bit."
Brown said there's a benefit to hiring for the CEO role internally, as opposed to bringing in someone from the outside, given her history and familiarity with the business.
"I've been there for all the good times, for all the not-so-good times, for all the change," she said. "Because I've had exposure to all that, I can really tell our employees, 'I've got you'...It's not an outsider coming in and really changing things up. I've got that legacy history and I can use that as part of our plan moving forward."
Brown will take the reins from the company's three co-founders, Steve Polacek, Don Bora and John Ostler, who will now focus on partner relationships and other strategy decisions.
Eight Bit was founded in 2008 and has worked with several big-name clients, including the Field Museum, Echo Global Logistics, Allstate and Vivid Seats. The company currently has around 40 employees.
Brown, who splits her time between Chicago and St. Louis, said she wants to elevate employee voices at the company in order to better collaborate and take the firm to new heights.
"It's so important to me that each voice across our organization is heard," she said.
