Former key employees Arranged in chronological order: Tom Hall – Co-founder, game designer, level designer, writer, creative director (1991–1993). After a dispute with John Carmack over the designs of Doom, Hall was forced to resign from id Software in August 1993. He joined 3D Realms soon afterwards. Bobby Prince – Music composer (1991–1994). A freelance musician who went on to pursue other projects after Doom II. Dave Taylor – Programmer (1993–1996). Taylor left id Software and co-founded Crack dot Com. John Romero – Co-founder, game designer, programmer (1991–1996). Romero resigned on August 6, 1996. He established Ion Storm along with Hall on November 15, 1996. Michael Abrash – Programmer (1995–1996). Returned to Microsoft after the release of Quake, but eventually worked with Carmack again at Reality Labs. Shawn Green – Software support (1991–1996). Left id Software to join Romero at Ion Storm. Jay Wilbur – Business manager (1991–1997). Left id Software after Romero's departure and joined Epic Games in 1997. Sandy Petersen – Level designer (1993–1997). Left id Software for Ensemble Studios in 1997. Mike Wilson – PR and marketing (1994–1997). Left id Software to become CEO of Ion Storm with Romero. Left a year later to found Gathering of Developers and later Devolver Digital. American McGee – Level designer (1993–1998). McGee was fired after the release of Quake II. He joined Electronic Arts and created American McGee's Alice. Adrian Carmack – Co-founder, artist (1991–2005). Carmack was forced out of id Software after the release of Doom 3 because he would not sell his stock at a low price to the other owners. Adrian sued id Software and the lawsuit was settled during the Zenimax acquisition in 2009. Todd Hollenshead – President (1996–2013) Left id Software on good terms to work at Nerve Software. John Carmack – Co-founder, technical director (1991–2013). He joined Oculus VR on August 7, 2013, as a side project, but unable to handle two companies at the same time, Carmack resigned from id Software on November 22, 2013, to pursue Oculus full-time, making him the last founding member to leave the company. Tim Willits – Level designer (1995–2001), creative director (2002–2011), studio director (2012–2019) He is now the chief creative officer at Saber Interactive. Robert Duffy – Chief Technology Officer (1998–2024). Robert left id Software in January 2024.
former key employees arranged in chronological order tom hall – co-founder game designer level designer writer creative director (1991–1993) after a dispute with john carmack over the designs of doom hall was forced to resign from id software in august 1993 he joined 3d realms soon afterwards bobby prince – music composer (1991–1994) a freelance musician who went on to pursue other projects after doom ii dave taylor – programmer (1993–1996) taylor left id software and co-founded crack dot com john romero – co-founder game designer programmer (1991–1996) romero resigned on august 6 1996 he established ion storm along with hall on november 15 1996 michael abrash – programmer (1995–1996) returned to microsoft after the release of quake but eventually worked with carmack again at reality labs shawn green – software support (1991–1996) left id software to join romero at ion storm jay wilbur – business manager (1991–1997) left id software after romero's departure and joined epic games in 1997 sandy petersen – level designer (1993–1997) left id software for ensemble studios in 1997 mike wilson – pr and marketing (1994–1997) left id software to become ceo of ion storm with romero left a year later to found gathering of developers and later devolver digital american mcgee – level designer (1993–1998) mcgee was fired after the release of quake ii he joined electronic arts and created american mcgee's alice adrian carmack – co-founder artist (1991–2005) carmack was forced out of id software after the release of doom 3 because he would not sell his stock at a low price to the other owners adrian sued id software and the lawsuit was settled during the zenimax acquisition in 2009 todd hollenshead – president (1996–2013) left id software on good terms to work at nerve software john carmack – co-founder technical director (1991–2013) he joined oculus vr on august 7 2013 as a side project but unable to handle two companies at the same time carmack resigned from id software on november 22 2013 to pursue oculus full-time making him the last founding member to leave the company tim willits – level designer (1995–2001) creative director (2002–2011) studio director (2012–2019) he is now the chief creative officer at saber interactive robert duffy – chief technology officer (1998–2024) robert left id software in january 2024