Codemasters appoints “installs high power operational management team”

By Patrick Garratt

Codemasters has appointed four new execs to its senior management team in a bid to keep the company on the “fast track”, following three fiscal years of double digit growth.

Axel Herr is the firm’s new senior VP of publishing for EMEA, previously MD of THQ in Germany and Nintendo of Europe. Former EA European studios marketing director Alex Bertie has been named VP for Brand & Marketing.

Matt Jeffery, previously of SCE, is now Codemasters’ director of Digital Technologies, while ex-finance director for Sony BMG, Paul Martin, joins as VP of finance in September.

Press release after the link.

Codemasters
CODEMASTERS® INSTALLS HIGH POWER OPERATIONAL MANAGEMENT TEAM IN READINESS FOR MULTI-YEAR GROWTH

Codemasters announces management talent for its Publishing, Marketing, Commercial and Finance divisions as company momentum gathers pace

Friday 29th August/… Following a third successive fiscal year of double digit revenue growth and sustained profitability, Codemasters® has swooped to secure four key industry players to join its senior management team and today named its new Senior Vice President Publishing, Vice President Marketing, Vice President Finance, and Director Digital Technologies.

The much respected former Managing Director of THQ Entertainment GmbH, Nintendo of Europe and recent CEO of Bally Wulff Entertainment GmbH, Axel Herr is appointed Senior Vice President, Publishing EMEA with responsibility for the company’s publishing business in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Distributor Territories.

At Codemasters’ corporate headquarters Alex Bertie, previously Electronic Arts’ European Studios Marketing Director, has joined the management team in the role of Vice President, Brand & Marketing with responsibility for strategic and operational marketing, including brand and product management, on a worldwide basis.

Formerly Platform Development Manager with Sony Computer Entertainment, Matt Jeffery joins Codemasters as Director, Digital Technologies. In this role, Matt will be managing future business opportunities for Codemasters’ technologies, such as the EGO™ Engine, and the company’s digital delivery systems.

Previously UK Finance Director for Sony BMG Music Entertainment, Paul Martin will join Codemasters in September as Vice President Finance with responsibility for driving forward the finance agenda of the Codemasters Group.

“Codemasters is coming off the back of three consecutive years of double digit revenue growth and sustained profitability. The industry outlook is compelling and Codemasters is on the fast track. It is a high octane company with great energy and we are attracting people who make things happen,” said Rod Cousens, CEO.

“Axel, Alex, Paul and Matt have already made their mark in their respective fields. They are driven, have a hunger to succeed and a high work ethic. At Codemasters, they are a good fit and can be the incoming tide that takes the company forward. By targeting revenue uplift in excess of 50 percent in the current fiscal year, Codemasters is poised for its greatest surge yet.”

With a clutch of recent awards won for its development and tech output, Codemasters has escalated its production capability and is planning to further expand its internal studios through the course of the year.

2008 has yet to see the introduction of new core gaming IPs Rise of the Argonauts and Damnation in addition to The Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria, the first retail expansion for the award-winning MMORPG. For the family entertainment sectors, Codemasters will launch Bella Sara, based on the fantasy horse franchise for girls, and in partnership with Microsoft publish You’re in the Movies exclusively for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft®.

Titles announced for 2009 include the return of the legendary military gaming franchise in Operation Flashpoint 2: Dragon Rising, the recently announced FUEL, the trio of Overlord titles and the official games of the world’s leading motor sport property under the FORMULA 1 licence.

Comments