Warner unveils games team

New publishing powerhouse Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment has finalised its core games team – but expect further high profile recruits as the media giant picks up momentum in the UK.

After setting up a dedicated office for the region and buying Lego Star Wars developer Traveller’s Tales late last year, the media giant has made clear its intentions to expand its video game publishing operation in the UK and in the wider EMEA region.

With an exclusive deal signed with Centresoft for distribution in the UK, Warner Bros Interactive released its debut titles in Europe – Looney Tunes ACME Arsenal on PS2, Wii and 360 and Looney Tunes Duck Amuck on DS – in November last year.

Here’s a run-down of the key faces:

Chris Meredith
VP European Sales and Distribution
Meredith began his European interactive entertainment career with the launch of PlayStation in Europe, moved to MicroProse, 3Dfx and later set up Majesco Entertaiment in Europe. More recently, Meredith set up his own business advising mobile gaming companies.

Matt Spencer
Director of Sales, EMEA
Spencer joined WBIE in December as director of sales for EMEA. Prior to this he spent four years as UK sales director at Take 2. Spencer also had a two-year stint as UK distribution manager at Microsoft Xbox.

Hester Woodliffe
Marketing and PR Director, EMEA
Woodliffe has over 12 years’ experience working in a variety of marketing positions across the leisure and entertainment industries. She spent five years at both Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and Warner Home Video Europe in senior marketing positions.

Maria Deevoy
Marketing Manager, EMEA
Deevoy has over 13 years experience in the games industry, most recently at Disney Interactive Studios where she was marketing manager. Deevoy also brings experience from Eidos, Xbox and Sony Computer Entertainment.

Phil Lamb
Product Manager, UK
Lamb was UK product manager at both Sega and Acclaim where he was responsible for all Sonic the Hedgehog products as well as Virtua Tennis, Condemned and World Championship Rugby. Prior to this Phil spent four years working in the music industry.

Louise McTighe
European Senior Producer
Louise has been with WBIE for over seven years and has been involved with key Warner Bros licensed titles such as Harry Potter, Looney Tunes and Batman. Prior to this McTighe worked as a producer at Hasbro Interactive and at Sega Europe.

Alex Friend
Junior Product Manager, EMEA
Alex joined WBIE in December from Sega Europe where he spent three years working as online community manager and web producer. He also spent time as an intern at Ubisoft UK in 2002.

Julie Skinner
PR Manager, EMEA
Skinner brings with her four years of experience from Sony Computer Entertainment Europe where she worked on Disney Interactive, Naughty Dog, WRC and SCE titles and also worked in brand marketing on a variety of projects. Prior to this Julie spent two years working in the music industry.

Lara McGuiness
PA to Hester Woodliffe and Admin Assistant, EMEA
Prior to joining WBIE in November Lara spent 4 years working in the UK advertising and television industries for DDB and ITV

Claire Malyon
PA to Chris Meredith
Prior to working at WBIE Claire spent ten years working in the City for a variety of investment banks.