If you've ever picked up a copy of Catan or an Exit escape room game from a UK shop, chances are Thames & Kosmos UK put it on that shelf. Now the German publisher behind those games has taken full ownership of its British distribution arm, buying out the remaining 20% stake it didn't already hold.
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See how it worksFounders Stephen O'Connor and Joanna Drage are stepping down after building the business from scratch. They launched it as Science Shop back in 2009, and Kosmos bought an 80% stake four years later. Both are now retiring, with Kosmos joint managing director Thilan Tran praising their "entrepreneurial vision, high personal integrity, and great dedication."
Taking the reins are Emma Hanlon, the company's first ever employee with 12 years of service, and Andrew Morris, who step up as the new leadership team. Hanlon's promotion from within signals continuity rather than a shake-up.
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Set up your group for freeSo what does this mean for UK gamers? Probably not much day-to-day, but it's a sign that Kosmos sees the British market as worth investing in directly. The publisher called the UK "a key component" of its international growth strategy. With Exit having shifted over 30 million copies worldwide across more than 50 titles, and Catan still one of the best-selling board games on the planet, having tighter control over UK distribution makes commercial sense. Thames & Kosmos UK is now Kosmos's first wholly owned foreign subsidiary.
Sources: Board Game Wire | Toy World Magazine
