ILKKA PAANANEN
Career History
Supercell is one of Europe’s most successful mobile gaming companies and a defining force in the global industry, known for its hit titles Clash of Clans, Clash Royale, Hay Day and Brawl Stars. Ilkka Paananen co-founded the company in 2010 and continues to serve as Chief Executive Officer. He is widely recognised for developing Supercell’s decentralised “cell” structure, which gives small, autonomous teams full creative and operational ownership of their games. This model has enabled consistent innovation and sustained commercial performance, with several titles exceeding $1bn in lifetime revenue.
Under Paananen’s leadership, Supercell has remained one of the highest-earning and most influential studios in the world, achieving cumulative revenues estimated at over $20bn. He has also overseen a series of strategic investments designed to expand Supercell’s reach and support emerging talent, including stakes in Space Ape Games, Trailmix, Metacore, Luau Games and Ultimate Studio.
Before founding Supercell, Paananen was President of Digital Chocolate, an early pioneer of the social gaming sector led by Electronic Arts founder Trip Hawkins. He began his career in Finland’s emerging games industry in the late 1990s, establishing his reputation as both an engineer and a leader capable of building enduring creative cultures.
About Supercell
Founded in Helsinki in 2010, Supercell became a global success through the sustained popularity of its mobile games, several of which have each surpassed $1bn in lifetime revenue. Clash of Clans alone has generated more than $10bn since launch and continues to perform strongly more than a decade later. Brawl Stars and Clash Royale remain among the top-grossing games on iOS and Android, while Hay Day and Boom Beach continue to deliver long-term returns through live-ops support and a loyal player base.
In 2016, Chinese technology group Tencent acquired an 81.4% majority stake in Supercell, valuing the company at over $10bn. Despite the acquisition, Supercell continues to operate independently, maintaining its small-team philosophy and selective approach to growth. Beyond its own titles, Supercell has become a major backer of the next generation of studios, investing in and supporting developers such as Metacore (Merge Mansion), Space Ape Games (Beatstar), and Trailmix (Love & Pies). This network of partnerships has positioned Supercell as a creative and financial cornerstone of the European mobile gaming ecosystem.
Clash of Clans