Bartlett heads up firm’s UK PR team Argos and EA hire new PR managers New chairman for GameHorizon
NINTENDO l The Wii and 3DS firm has hired JO BARTLETT as its new UK PR boss. She takes up the role of head of UK communications, filling the vacancy left by ROB SAUNDERS when he left for Apple in 2011.
Bartlett will oversee all press and media relations and manage Nintendo’s PR agency Good Relations at Bell
Pottinger. She will work alongside existing team members LEWIS DIGBY and EMILY WOOLISCROFT. Bartlett had previously worked for PlayStation, Paramount Home Entertainment, Warner Bros Digital Distribution and Play.com. “I am thrilled to be joining Nintendo; it is a unique opportunity to work for
a market-leading company with such heritage, amazing games and one of the most exceptional innovators in the entertainment industry,” said Bartlett. UK assistant GM and marketing director DAWN PAINE added: “We’re thrilled to have Jo on board. With 2012 set to be another exciting year, we look forward to raising the bar even higher with some groundbreaking PR campaigns.”
ARGOS l The Home Retail Group has appointed HAYLEY FOWELL as PR manager for Argos.
She will be responsible for working with the media on all press enquiries concerning Argos, as well as handling any information released about the retailer. Fowell joins after seven years as senior PR manager at the Royal Mail Group, and has previously worked for Visa and
KPMG. Fowell arrives as Home Retail Group PR SIMON BIBBY departs. .................................................................................................................................................................
ELECTRONIC ARTS l The publisher has hired two new PR managers. JAMES BRUCE(far left) joins from Brands2Life, where he handled projects for Activision and Namco Bandai. He will manage EA’s Games label with publicists TOM GOLDBERG and BRYONY BENOY.
Meanwhile, GARETH ARCULUS(above right)will focus on The Simsseries
and EA Sports, working with KEITH HENNESSEY and GEM WOOLNOUGH. Arculus previously worked for Thorpe Park parent firm Merlin Entertainment. PR boss SHAUN WHITE said: “James and Gareth bring a wealth of
experience and their passion for the games industry will bolster our highly talented team.”
GAMEHORIZON l GARETH EDMONDSON has been named as the new chairman of games development networking outfit GameHorizon.
He replaces former chairman and Eutechnyx COO DARREN JOBLING, who steps down after seven years. He will continue as a member of the company’s board. Edmondson said: “I’m very much looking forward to the opportunity to support the network and the regional games industry.”