SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Leading interactive entertainment publisher BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. today announces three new postings to its leadership team. This new team of leaders has been assembled specifically to focus upon and expand the company’s digital distribution channels, anime game offerings, and further develop its Latin American business and marketing operations. All three leadership postings are effective immediately.
Coming on board in the role of Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Hide Irie brings over 30 years of video game publishing experience to BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America’s executive team. Irie most recently held the role of President and CEO of U.S. based video game publisher Agetec from 2005 to 2015. Prior to his tenure at Agetec, Irie held the position of President and COO of SEGA of America.
“BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America has entered an exciting period of growth and expansion in the Americas,” said Hide Irie, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. “I look forward to fostering further success for the company in the western hemisphere.”
Joining the company in the role of Vice President of Marketing, Eric Hartness has over two decades of marketing experience in the toy and video game industries. Hartness most recently held the role of Head of Marketing at Amazon Game Studios and was formerly a Vice President of Marketing at video game publisher Electronic Arts. His expertise in the digital space and video game marketing will play a pivotal role in increasing the success of BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America’s digital businesses both in the console and mobile spaces.
“The digital transformation of the traditional video game sector is well underway and BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment will deliver even more unique and compelling digital content to gamers in the Americas,” said Eric Hartness, Vice President of Marketing at BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. “With its exciting product line-up encompassing a wide range of popular genres running on a variety of platforms, BANDAI NAMCO has tremendous opportunities to drive substantial growth in its digital business.”
In addition, Gerson Souza joins the company as its new Director of Latin American Sales and Marketing. Souza has worked in the Latin American video games industry for over 20 years and has held General and Country Manager positions at both Sony Computer Entertainment America and Vivendi Games. He brings a wealth of local sales and marketing experience to BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Brazil Inc. that will directly benefit the Latin American and Brazilian territories.
“For the past three years, BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America has stood out as the most aggressive third-party publisher to invest in the development of streamlined sales and distribution channels as well as increased efforts in building strong brand recognition in the Latin American market,” said Gerson Souza, Director of Latin American Sales and Marketing at BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Brazil Inc. “I’m very excited to join the company with the goal of taking our sales and distribution capabilities to the new heights and further solidify the BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment brand in Latin America and Brazil.”
For more information on BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. game titles and products, please visit http://www.bandainamcoent.com or follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BandaiNamcoUS.
About BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc.
BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc., part of BANDAI NAMCO Holdings Inc., is a leading global publisher and developer of interactive content — including all major video game consoles, iOS, mobile and online. The company is known for creating and publishing many of the industry’s top video game franchises, including PAC-MAN®, TEKKEN®, SOULCALIBUR®, NARUTO™, NARUTO SHIPPUDEN™, Dragon Ball®, GALAGA®, RIDGE RACER® and ACE COMBAT®. More information about the company and its products can be found at http://www.bandainamcoent.com or www.facebook.com/BandaiNamcoUS
©2015 BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc.
Press Release © 2015 BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc.
