Media group reorganises games and movies team for digital growth Recruiters Lis Welsh hires industry veteran Gree expands with Funzio acquisition
FUTURE l The media firm has made several changes to the senior management team for its Entertainment brands. DON DITRI is now the
division’s head of commercial development. CLAIR PORTEOUS will take on his publishing duties on CVG and GamesRadaras well as her new role as head of digital development.
Clockwise from top left: Ditri, Porteous, Keith, Nutter, Kick and Clark all take on new duties
RICHARD KEITH is still publisher for PC Gamer, Edge and the Xbox magazines. He will also drive Future’s
ventures in mobile and tablet gaming, as well as the free-to-play market. LEE NUTTER continues as publisher for Future’s Nintendo titles, and picks up additional responsibilities for the Film portfolio from Porteous. He will now be responsible for Total Film, SFXand Comic Heroes, while handing GamesMaster over to JAMES KICK. Kick adds that to his role as associate publisher of the PlayStation portfolio and the GamesMaster Golden Joystick Awards. Finally, TIM CLARK’s job title has changed from editor-in-chief of games to group senior editor of games. “We have realigned the structure of the Entertainment portfolio to provide a great focus on delivering rapid digital growth, increased and additional revenue streams, greater audience engagement and the agility to move into emerging markets,” said group publishing director SIMON MAXWELL.
LIS WELSH l BECKY LINDON has joined the recruitment specialist as business development director. She previous held various positions at Future Publishing as well as an international sales role at the BBC. She later became business manager for Gamer TV, and most recently spent four years as European trade marketing manager at Bethesda.
“Becky has joined at a crucial time as we expand into the digital media
market,” says Lis Welsh Search & Selection founder LIS NAYLOR (née Welsh). “We are keen to leverage our expertise by providing key openings into digital media and Becky will spearhead this for us. We are delighted to welcome Becky into the business.”
GREE l Japanese social gaming firm Gree has hired a number of new members as part of its acquisition of Funzio, developer of iOS titles Modern War, Kingdom Age and Crime City. Former Funzio CEO KEN CHIU and COO ANIL DHARNI join Gree International as senior vice presidents. Meanwhile CTO RAM GUDAVALLI and VP of engineering ANDY KEIDEL join as VPs.
“Gree shares our vision of a mobile world where people can play together wherever and whenever they are,” said Chiu.