Z-Man Games founder Zev Shlasinger to leave WizKids after seven years

Zev Shlasinger, the founder of original Pandemic publisher Z-Man Games, is leaving his role as director of board game development at WizKids after seven years with the business.

WizKids said Shlasinger had helped expand the company from a “small catalog anchored by critical hits Quarriors and Mage Knight“, adding titles including Sidereal Confluence, Fantasy Realms and Dungeon Scrawlers to its range.

Shlasinger created Z-Man Games in 2000, and struck huge success by publishing Matt Leacock’s Pandemic in 2008. The game has gone on to sell several million copies and was nominated for the Spiel des Jahres – the biggest award in board gaming – in 2009.

He sold Z-Man to Filosofia owner Sophie Gravel in 2011, and left the company in 2016 to join WizKids as head of board game operations.

A statement from WizKids said it “came to terms on a mutual and amicable parting of ways” with Shlasinger, who is currently seeking new opportunities in the tabletop industry.

Justin Ziran, president of WizKids, said, “I look forward to future collaborations with Zev should our paths cross, and I sincerely hope they do.”

WizKids, a subsidiary of licenced collectibles manufacturer NECA, publishes games including Mage Knight, Clash of Cultures, Marvel Dice Masters and Star Trek: Attack Wing.