Japanese internet company DeNA announced a change of management at its ngmoco mobile social gaming arm, with founders Neil Young and Bob Stevenson “moving on to their next adventure”.

The company will now be headed by Clive Downie as CEO, stepping up from his previous position as head of studios.

Young will remain on the DeNA board of directors “at this time”, and “fully supports” the executive transition, according to a statement.

It was reported earlier this year that ngmoco had cut its employee numbers, having failed to rollout DeNA’s Mobage social gaming platform internationally as anticipated.

DeNA acquired ngmoco in October 2010 to spearhead its overseas expansion. The company began its global Mobage rollout with cHinese and English versions made available in mid-2011.

“As our Western business moves from its platform building and global integration phase to awareness building, publishing and operating a robust portfolio of games that entertain the world, Clive’s talents and understanding of our business make him the perfect person to drive Mobage in the West,” said Isao Moriyasu, CEO of DeNA.

DeNA said it has built a catalogue of 77 games for its international efforts, with titles such as Cygames’ Rage of Bahamut having appeared in the top grossing charts for both Google Play and Apple’s App Store.

It also said that its own Blood Brothers has been one of the top grossing titles on Google Play for the last five weeks, and “at least five Mobage games have consistently been in the top grossing 25 games on Google Play”.