Veteran of EA and Xbox to Lead Global Publishing, Online Platform,
Central Development Services and Corporate Groups
REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Jun 18, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS) today announced that John Schappert
has been appointed Chief Operating Officer, responsible for Worldwide
Publishing, the Online Platform Group, EA(TM) Interactive, Central
Development Services and other divisions of the company. Schappert, who
joined the industry in 1991 as a software engineer on several EA titles
and went on to lead many of the company's biggest franchises, left EA in
2007 to become Corporate Vice President of the Microsoft Interactive
Entertainment Business with responsibility for Microsoft Game Studios
and Xbox LIVE(R). He is scheduled to return to EA on July 14.
John Pleasants, who has been in this role, will be leaving the company.
"We are thrilled to welcome John Schappert back to EA," said EA Chief
Executive Officer John Riccitiello. "He has a great track record as a
leader and innovator in our industry. His years of experience with EA
and in Microsoft's Xbox business, provide him great insight into
recognizing what consumers want."
"After nearly two decades working in or around this company, I've got EA
in my blood," said John Schappert. "This is a team that is intensely
focused on quality and innovation. I'm looking forward to rejoining EA
as Chief Operating Officer and helping grow the business on new
platforms and in new markets."
John Schappert has 17 years of experience building successful teams and
profitable businesses in the game industry. After working as a game
software engineer and project leader, he founded Tiburon Entertainment
in 1994, the studio behind EA's Madden NFL, NCAA(R) Football and Tiger
Woods games. Tiburon was acquired by EA in 1998. In 2002, he moved
to EA's Burnaby Studio in British Columbia and was promoted to Senior
Vice President and Group General Manager. In this role, he oversaw
production of blockbuster franchises such as FIFA Soccer, NHL(R)
hockey, and Need For Speed(TM). He was promoted again to Chief
Operating Officer for EA's Worldwide Studios and, subsequently to
Executive Vice President with oversight of EA's Online Platform and
Central Development Services Group.
He joined Microsoft in 2007 to create the LIVE Software Division, the
online services group for Xbox(R). His responsibilities were expanded to
include oversight for the Microsoft Game Studios and Xbox LIVE. This
role included oversight of some of the industry's largest franchises,
including Halo, Gears of War and Forza Motorsport. John
and his team launched the New Xbox Experience which brought new
functionality to Xbox LIVE and helped grow the Xbox Live business from 6
million to 20 million members.
About Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is
a leading global interactive entertainment software company. Founded in
1982, the Company develops, publishes, and distributes interactive
software worldwide for video game systems, personal computers, wireless
devices and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under
four brand names: EA SPORTSTM, EATM, EA MobileTM
and POGOTM. In fiscal 2009, EA posted GAAP net revenue of
$4.2 billion and had 31 titles that sold more than one million copies.
EA's homepage and online game site is www.ea.com.
More information about EA's products and full text of press releases can
be found on the Internet at http://info.ea.com.
EA, EA SPORTS, EA Mobile, Pogo and Need for Speed are trademarks or
registered trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. in the U.S. and/or other
countries. Xbox and Xbox LIVE are trademarks of the Microsoft group of
companies. John Madden, NFL, Tiger Woods, NCAA and FIFA are trademarks
or other intellectual property of their owners and used with permission.
All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
SOURCE: Electronic Arts Inc.
Electronic Arts
Jeff Brown, 650-628-7922
VP Corporate Communications
jbrown@ea.com
Tricia Gugler, 650-628-7327
VP Investor Relations
tgugler@ea.com
Copyright Business Wire 2009