FarmVille Creator Exits Zynga

Social game company Zynga has lost one of its most veteran and influential designers. Mark Skaggs, who created the FarmVille franchise and had been with Zynga since its start-up days, has left the San Francisco-based studio. Most recently, he served as Zynga's SVP of Games, where he oversaw all of the company's titles, including the recently released strategy game Empires & Allies.

"We are appreciative and thankful for the player-focused passion and creativity Mark has infused in Zynga teams and projects over the years," Zynga CEO Mark Pincus said in a statement provided to GamesIndustry International.

Skaggs' departure comes as part of a wider management shakeup that saw Zynga hire former Hasbro human resources executive Laura Revenko as its new "chief people officer." Further details about Skaggs' exit from Zynga are not available, but it sounds like the veteran designer isn't quitting games altogether.

He says on Twitter, "Who said anything about retiring????"

From a financial standpoint, Zynga has seen better days. For the latest reporting period, Zynga posted another loss, which came just months after the company implemented a $100 million cost reduction plan that resulted in more than 350 layoffs worldwide. In other recent Zynga news, the company has brought on former Electronic Arts executive Frank Gibeau to join its Board of Directors.