Andrew Wilson was announced as Electronic Arts‘ new CEO yesterday. He replaces John Riccitiello, who resigned in March.
Wilson will spearhead and continue to shape EA’s existing business strategies including relying more on digital distribution, expansion into the mobile market, and participation in the free-to-play ecosystem.
Wilson was previously the Executive Vice President of EA Sports and has been a part of EA since 2000 when he started in Australia. Among other roles, he headed EA Asia‘s online publishing group in Seoul, worked for EA in Canada, and was involved in the foundation of EA‘s online gaming service, Origin.
Andrew Wilson followed his work in Seoul by moving to EA Sports in 2011, where he got started as executive producer of the FIFA franchise; this makes him the first EA CEO who has been a studio executive. Wilson‘s success with FIFA helped him ascend to EA Sports‘ executive vice president position.
Larry Probst, EA‘s interim executive chairman, announced Wilson‘s promotion on EA‘s website, crediting Andrew Wilson‘s natural fit for the position: “a compelling and charismatic communicator who cares deeply about organizational development, teams, and the individual careers of people who work for EA. Most of all, he has a powerful sense of respect for and commitment to our consumers.”
Probst, who is also the executive chairman of the U.S. Olympic Committee, will continue his position at EA until Wilson has completed his transition from EA Sports.
To read Wilson‘s opening message to EA, just click here.
You can also check out this EA timeline that chronicles the company’s history during its first 25 years.
