The new president of the US trade body is a former assistant secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information, having served as the chief telecommunications and policy advisor to the Bush administration.

“Mike’s outstanding technology, policy, and government relations experience makes him a strong fit for the ESA, where issues like intellectual property, self-regulation, and industry social and economic contributions are at the forefront of the agenda,” said chair of the ESA Board of Directors and president of Microsoft’s entertainment and devices division Robbie Bach.

New top man at the ESA Mike Gallagher added: “It is a privilege to represent the dynamic entertainment software industry, with over two-thirds of American heads of households playing video games, and the tremendous opportunities available to the industry on every device - from consoles and PCs to handhelds and broadband enabled cell phones - the business is poised for tremendous growth. I look forward to working with federal and state leaders to foster an environment where the industry and its consumers can thrive.”