The worldwide search for the new CEO of EA (which could’ve easily been made into a fun reality competition called ‘Who Wants to Run the Most Hated Company in America?’) has now ended, with Andrew Wilson taking the helm.
Formerly the Executive Vice President of EA Sports and Origin, Wilson posted the following statement on the EA website:
Let me start by saying I am deeply honored and humbled to become EA’s CEO. I have a profound respect and passion for this organization, as well as for our global community of fans, and I’m incredibly motivated to serve our people, our gamers and our shareholders at such an exciting time in our industry.
From my start at EA in Australia back in 2000, through stops in Asia, Europe and now North America, I’ve worked with people in this company who have consistently amazed and inspired me. It’s my passion for our people and the great products we all impact that gives me such excitement for our future. I hope you all feel the same level of energy and optimism that I do as we embark on this journey together.
I envision EA as the World’s Greatest Games Company. This is not about what we are aiming for or what we will become. Rather, it is about an unfaltering commitment to what we will be every day. This is an attitude that must drive our culture as one team.
I also believe EA’s strategy is sound. Our focus on our talent, our brands and our platform together with our investment in next-generation consoles, mobile and PC free-to-play, as part of our ongoing transition to digital, is right. But we have plenty of work ahead to ensure our collective success.
In the short term, our mission is crystal clear: We are 100 percent focused on delivering our FY14 business plan. We have made strong progress in the first half of the fiscal year, establishing financial discipline and continuing to create a slate of fantastic games for current and next-generation consoles, mobile and PC. But now we’ve got to finish the job – execute in Q3 and Q4 and deliver on the promises we made to our fans and our shareholders.
Looking ahead, my focus will be on three things:
- Continued transformation for our digital future;
- Delivering amazing games and services across platforms; and
- Instilling a culture of execution that will drive profitable growth.
In the days and weeks ahead, I will provide a greater level of operational detail behind the plan that will make these goals a reality.
I could not be more proud to lead you as CEO of EA. Thank you in advance for your support.
What do you think of this hiring? Let us know in the comments below.
