Date: 03-18-2008
Electronic Arts Inc. (EA) said that it has appointed John Pleasants as its COO and president of its global publishing arm, effective immediately. Pleasants was formerly the president and CEO of Revolution Health Group and IAC’s Ticketmaster. He will be replacing David Gardner, who left the company this year to take the helm at Infogrames. According to company sources, the newly appointed COO will head the global publishing organization, corporate communications, and government affairs for EA, along with its online, central, and technology teams. He might also have to handle other responsibilities, including the long-standing and sensitive bid to purchase Take-Two Interactive. Some observers have suggested that the move by EA CEO John Riccitiello to bring in Pleasants, an outsider who is relatively unfamiliar with the publishing field, may not be a smart one.
