The Kraft Sports Group is tapping former StarCraft II pro Chris "HuK" Loranger to head its Overwatch League team operations, sources close to both parties told ESPN.
Loranger was recently in South Korea to visit friends and interact with Overwatch players and parties in the country on behalf of the Kraft Group, sources said. Upon returning stateside, he will continue to resume preparation for the end-of-year launch of the Overwatch League.
The player signing window for the Overwatch League opened on Monday, August 1. Participating organizations, including the Kraft Sports Group and Loranger, will have through October 30 to sign players who do not have existing contracts with organizations previously in the Overwatch competitive scene.
During his time in esports, Loranger competed in StarCraft II for seven years and won Major League Gaming Raleigh and Orlando in 2011. He also competed on behalf of several high profile esports teams, including Team Liquid and Evil Geniuses, the latter where he stayed until January.
In Overwatch, he has served primarily as an on-screen talent and has commentated and provided analysis at Major League Gaming Las Vegas 2016, ELeague's Overwatch Open, and the Overwatch Atlantic Showdown. He was also the general manager for Overwatch team Toronto Esports.
The Kraft Sports Group, which owns the NFL's New England Patriots, the MLS's New England Revolution, and Gillette Stadium in Boston, first made their entry into Overwatch in May. The sports organization acquired the Boston spot in the Overwatch League, which is slated to launch towards the end of the 2017 calendar year, for $20 million, sources told ESPN. It is among seven of the initial teams to buy-into the league.
The Kraft Sports Group declined to comment.