TIGA, the trade association representing the UK games industry, today announced the appointment of its new board members.
Halli Bjornsson CEO of Lockwood Publishing; Gary Bracey, Commercial Director at Kuju Entertainment; Elaine Green from Nellyvision; Catharina Lavers Mallet, Head of Studio for King in the UK; Nizar Romdhane, director of ecosystem, Marketing, Media Processing Division, ARM; and Stuart Whyte, Studio Director at Lionhead have been elected to drive TIGA forward in its mission of supporting developers and digital publishers.
In a further change, Mark Gerhard, Jagex CEO, was elected Vice-Chairman of TIGA.
Halli Bjornsson, CEO of Lockwood Publishing, said:
“TIGA has made a real, significant and tangible difference for the games industry, not least through its political work in campaigning for Games Tax Relief and through its focus on improving access to finance for developers and high technology businesses. I am looking forward to help TIGA to strengthen the games development and digital publishing sector.”
Gary Bracey, Commercial Director at Kuju Entertainment, said:
“TIGA provides a powerful voice for game developers and digital publishers in political and media circles. I am looking forward to continue TIGA’s good work in supporting developers and digital publishers working across a range of platforms.”
Elaine Green from Nellyvision, said:
“TIGA stands for developers and digital publishers. TIGA, through its membership benefits including discounts on third party service providers, its event programme and its dissemination of best practice information and advice makes a vital difference to the games industry. TIGA does some great work helping small studios and I plan to help TIGA in this area in particular.”
Catharina Lavers Mallet, Head of Studio for King in the UK, said:
“TIGA performs a vital role in campaigning for the industry and in helping small companies to grow, but it also provides excellent networking events and conferences. I’m looking forward to working with the rest of the TIGA board and team to our advance our industry.”
Nizar Romdhane, director of ecosystem, Marketing, Media Processing Division, ARM, said:
“ARM is pleased to join TIGA and its board. We are committed to helping TIGA members create the next generation of great gaming experiences. The ARM business model and partnership approach enable us to share key insights from across the gaming ecosystem where we help leading companies achieve success through worldwide collaboration. ARM hopes to inspire and inform the TIGA community about what is possible using current and future technology, from mobile phones and tablets to smart TVs.”
Stuart Whyte, Studio Director at Lionhead Studios, said:
“I have worked with TIGA for a number of years now and so I am really delighted to have been elected to the board. TIGA organises some excellent networking events, provides vital industry information and best practice and represents the industry extremely effectively in political circles.”
In welcoming the six new board members, TIGA CEO Dr. Richard Wilson, said:
“It gives me enormous pleasure to welcome Halli, Gary, Elaine, Catharina, Nizar and Stuart to the TIGA board. They have a wealth of different experiences which will enhance the effectiveness of TIGA in its mission of strengthening the development and digital publishing sector.”
Jason Kingsley OBE, TIGA Chairman and CEO and Creative Director of Rebellion, said:
“TIGA exists to advance the interests of its members and the wider games industry. I am delighted to welcome the new members to the TIGA board. I look forward to working with them to strengthen TIGA and to continue to support our wider membership.”
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Notes to editors:
About TIGA
TIGA is the trade association representing the video games industry. The majority of our members are either independent games developers or in-house publisher owned developers. We also have games publishers, outsourcing companies, technology businesses and universities amongst our membership. Since 2010, TIGA has won 16 business awards.
TIGA focuses on three sets of activities: political representation, profile raising and developing services that enhance the competitiveness of our members. This means that TIGA members are effectively represented in the corridors of power, their voice is heard in the media and they receive benefits that make a material difference to their businesses, including a reduction in costs and improved commercial opportunities.
For further information, please contact:
Dr. Richard Wilson, TIGA CEO on: 07875 939 643, or email: richard.wilson@tiga.org
Drew Field, TIGA Communications Director on: 07720 643 344, or email: drew.field@tiga.org