Jason Kingsley, the Chairman of TIGA, the trade
association representing the UK games industry, has been made an OBE in
the Queen's Birthday Honours.
The recognition for Jason Kingsley for his services
to the economy comes amid a career which has so far spanned nearly 30
years.
Mr Kingsley is the CEO, Creative Director and
co-founder of Rebellion, one of the top independent game developers in the
world.
He was instrumental in the founding of TIGA in
2001 and has been a leading voice in the organisation ever since, having
been its former vice-chair and now honorary Chairman.
During his time with
TIGA, he has advised Ministers to ensure the computer games industry
remains on the agenda of Government thinking on tax, employment, promoting
British industry and encouraging economic growth. The
Government's announcement to hand Games Tax Relief to developers in the UK
was a major victory for TIGA.
TIGA has been key in disseminating best practice
information and advice amongst the UK’s independent game development
sector.
TIGA has additionally been crucial in engaging with the government and
with the media about the benefits and importance of the video games sector
to the UK.
As part of his wider work, Mr Kingsley has
undertaken an extensive programme of school and college visits to talk to
young people about working in the computer games industry, as well as ensuring
Rebellion has aprogressive work experience programme.
Rebellion has grown over 20 years – it was
formed in 1992 – into a multi-million pound turnover private company,
employing approximately 250 people.
Rebellion has achieved 19 number one games
chart positions, playing a significant part in the history of this
exciting and creative sector.
The firm also helps mark out Oxford as a beacon
of high-tech industry, away from the traditional centres around London.
Jason has also excelled in the area of comics,
purchasing the UK’s leading science fiction comic 2000 AD in 2000 and
running it successfully for over a decade since then. 2000 AD is the home of
iconic British comic characters such as Judge Dredd.
Prior to founding Rebellion, Mr Kingsley was a
freelance games designer and artist for eight years.
Dr Richard Wilson, CEO of TIGA, said:
“Jason's recognition is well-deserved. He has
combined creative and artistic vision with business and commercial
success. He has devoted considerable time and effort for free to supporting,
improving and promoting the UK independent games development sector.
“Under Jason’s direction Rebellion has achieved
19 worldwide number ones, achieving considerable commercial success.
“TIGA, under his Chairmanship has won several
awards including Trade Association of the Year for both 2010 and 2011, the
first time an association has won the award in consecutive
years. Everybody at TIGA is delighted that his work within the videogame
sector has been recognised in such an important way.”
Ends
Notes
to editors:
About TIGA:
TIGA is the trade association representing the UK’s
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 11 business awards and has been nominated a
finalist for 9 other awards. In 2010 TIGA won two business awards including
‘Trade Association of the Year’ from the Trade Association Forum.
In 2011, TIGA
won eight business awards including ‘Trade Association of the Year’ from the
Trade Association Forum, ‘Outstanding Organisation’ from the Chartered
Management Institute and two Global Business Excellence Awards, including ‘Outstanding
Marketing Campaign’. Richard Wilson won
the ‘Leadership Award’ from the Trade Association Forum and the ‘Outstanding
Leader’ award from the Chartered Management Institute. In 2012, Richard Wilson
won the IoD’s
East of England Director of the Year Award. TIGA
is an Investors in People organisation.
TIGA's vision
is to make the UK the best place in the world to do games business. We
focus on three sets of activities: political representation, generating media
coverage 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.