Splash Damage co-founder and CEO Paul Wedgwood has left the developer after 17 years.

GamesIndustry.biz reports that fellow co-founder and chief marketing officer Richard Jolly will replace Wedgwood as CEO. Wedgwood has been in the executive seat since the company’s founding back in 2001.

"Paul and I have been close friends for nearly 20 years and he's been an inspirational leader who's left us with a lasting legacy that ensures we keep employee and player happiness at the heart of the company," said Jolly.

"We all sincerely wish him the very best of luck. No matter where his next endeavour takes him, Paul will always be a close friend and remain a part of the Splash Damage family.

“Although we're sad to see him leave, we're excited about the future of Splash Damage. In the coming year, we'll have new developments to announce, and we can't wait to share what we've been up to."

Splash Damage recently closed the curtains on its long-running free-to-play shooter Dirty Bomb. But it’s not all doom and gloom - the developer has had a successful relationship working with Microsoft and The Coalition on the Gears of War IP.