Alex Francois
About Alex Francois
Alex Francois serves as the Global Head of Competitive Operations at Riot Games, a position he has held since 2022. With a background in law and sports management, he has previously contributed to the NFL in various roles, including Manager of Football Operations and Rules Administration.
Work at Riot Games
Alex Francois has been serving as the Global Head of Competitive Operations at Riot Games since 2022. In this role, he oversees competitive gaming initiatives and operations, contributing to the growth and management of esports within the organization. Prior to his current position, he worked as the Global Head of Competitive Operations for VALORANT esports from 2020 to 2022. His work at Riot Games is based in Santa Monica, California.
Education and Expertise
Alex Francois holds a Doctor of Law (JD) from St. John's University School of Law, which he completed from 2012 to 2015. He also earned a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from the University of Central Florida between 2009 and 2011. Additionally, he studied Computer Science at Valencia College, obtaining an Associate of Science degree from 2006 to 2008. His educational background supports his expertise in legal and operational aspects of competitive sports.
Background
Before joining Riot Games, Alex Francois had an extensive career at the National Football League (NFL). He worked in various roles, including Manager of Football Operations and Rules Administration from 2018 to 2020, and Coordinator of Labor Arbitration and Information from 2016 to 2018. He also served as a Postgraduate Legal Fellow for the NFL's Management Council in 2016. His experience in the NFL included building analytics dashboards and restructuring workflows to improve operational efficiency.
Achievements
During his tenure at the NFL, Alex Francois inspired the creation of the league's first post-graduate legal fellowship program. He also led the establishment of VALORANT Game Changers, a competition focused on promoting women's participation in esports. Additionally, he built the NFL's first analytics dashboard designed for compliance and competitive equity, and restructured the NFL's discipline administration workflow, significantly reducing the appeal process.