SEGA Combines Management
SEGA of America, Inc. and SEGA of Europe Ltd., wholly-owned subsidiaries of SEGA Corporation have announced that as of Friday January 21st, 2005 they have combined their management teams to increase growth in Western markets.
Naoya Tsurumi is now the new CEO of SEGA of America, the CEO of Sega Europe, and a Corporate Officer of SEGA Corporation. He has worked with SEGA of Europe since 1992, including overseeing operations, marketing, development and licensing for SEGA's consumer products. He has been COO of SEGA Europe since 2002, and was instrumental in re-establishing SEGA Europe after their exit from the hardware industry.
Simon Jeffery is now the President/COO of SEGA of America. He will oversee all product and business development, marketing, sales, operation and content - all aspects of SEGA's gaming business in North America. Simon succeeds Hideaki Irie who has held the post since October 1st 2003, and has previously served as president of LucasArts Entertainment Company, vice president of Virgin Interactive Entertainment, and various management roles at Electronic Arts.
Mike Hayes is now the COO of SEGA Europe. Formerly the Managaging Director of SEGA Europe, he fills the position left by Naoya Tsurumi. He will build on the strong successes of 2004 to strive for growth and expanding marketshare throughout 2005.
Sue Hughes is now the Vice President of Sales, SEGA of America, Inc. She returns to SEGA after performing executive sales positions at Cokem International, Mobile Digital Media, Strategic Marketing Partners, The Learning Company, Mattel Media, Sanctuary Woods, SEGA of America and NEC Technologies.
"Integrating the management of our US and European organizations will allow SEGA's Western regions to aggressively develop and pursue products that appeal to Western consumers," said Naoya Tsurumi, CEO, SEGA of America and SEGA Europe. "As we prepare SEGA for next generation hardware, this unified organization will better position SEGA for growth in these markets."
Content will now be jointly developed between Europe and North America, in an aggressive move to grow their market share, and focus on product development and acquisitions.
