NEWS
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www.mcvuk.com for daily market data and news. This week our Recommended section starts on p47
Changes at the top for Microsoft UK Neil Thompson promoted to new broader role at computer giant l Jonathan Grimes takes Xbox UK hotseat by Christopher Dring
MICROSOFT has made two significant changes to its Xbox UK senior management team. Neil Thompson – former regional Xbox director for Northern Europe – has been promoted to lead Microsoft’s new Consumer Channels Group (CCG). The group unites all of Microsoft’s physical consumer products, which includes Windows PCs, Windows Phones and Xbox 360 into one organisation. CCG will handle sales and
marketing through retailers, device partners (or OEMS), mobile operators, Telecom companies and Microsoft’s own online outlet. Thompson has been working at Microsoft for 19 years and has held several senior marketing roles at the firm for the UK and EMEA regions.
Thompson has been promoted to head up Microsoft’s Consumer Channels Group, while Grimes (left) takes over his duties for Xbox UK
“ by Dominic Sacco
PUBLISHERS do not want to share data to make a download chart, says Paul Jackson OBE. Comments from the former EA UK and ELSPA boss come in stark contrast to the message from trade body UKIE, which says the industry must unite and start sharing data. When asked what he thinks is holding back a digital game sales chart, Jackson – now CEO of
Railsimulator.com – replied: “Self-interest by me and my peers.
4 September 9th 2011
Jonathan Grimes will focus on driving business across the retail channel.
Returning to Xbox UK to replace Thompson is Jonathan Grimes. Grimes previously worked in sales for Xbox UK, but departed in 2009 to look after the firm’s emerging markets business. In his new role as retail sales and marketing director for Microsoft UK, Grimes will
look after Xbox 360, mice, keyboards and webcams. He joined Microsoft in 1996 having previously worked as a buyer at retail and will be focusing on driving business across the retail channel. The changes have taken place at a key point for Xbox as it looks to become the
No.1 games platform across Europe. Its first big release of the year, Gears of War 3, arrives on September 20th. Other titles include Forza 4, Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary as well as key Kinect titles Dance Central 2 and Kinect Sports 2.
Microsoft: 0870 601 0100 Digital chart would be ‘pointless’ “
If I released Rail Simulator data and it showed we were selling less than Call of Duty, so what? Paul Jackson, Rail Simulator
“I can see how many people are buying my products on a minute-by- minute basis, I have all the information I need. I don’t particularly want to share
that with anyone else, and I haven’t got the slightest interest in what other publishers are doing. “I can’t see a consumer argument anymore. If I released Rail Simulator data and it showed that we were selling less than Call of Duty but more than Microsoft Flight Sim... well, so what? “Does a single one of my customers decide to buy because of that? I don’t think so.
“Self-declared sales are potentially divisive, therefore untrustworthy, and pointless.”
www.railsimulator.com
www.mcvuk.com
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