Frank Sliwka appointment

Games Convention Global

16 July 2008

The GC - Games Convention, Europe's benchmark fair for interactive entertainment, edutainment, infotainment and hardware, has a new strategy director. Frank Sliwka (46) takes on the newly created position as of 15 July 2008 and with it, responsibility for the global expansion of fairs and conferences as part of the Games Convention brand. Peggy Schönbeck, project director of the GC - Games Convention Leipzig continues her work in the team of Frank Sliwka.

Frank Sliwka was part of the founding team for the GC - Games Convention in Leipzig. From 2002, he cooperated with the fair as an external consultant with his company, Global Games Media. In 2003, he developed the successful concept for the GC Developers Conference (GCDC) which has now become the most important developers conference in Europe. Since 2007, Frank Sliwka has also been conference director of the GC Asia Conference in Singapore.

Frank Sliwka is a pioneer in the field of computer games. He works on the eSports sector and created the leading international conference worldwide for eSports and communities, the International eSports Conference (ESCONF). In 2004, Sliwka set up the Deutscher eSport Bund (ESB - German eSports Association) and was elected as its president.

Since its premiere in 2002, the GC - Games Convention has undergone rapid development, becoming the benchmark fair for Europe's game industry. The 2007 event was attended by 503 exhibitors from 31 countries, including all leading manufacturers and publishers. With 185,000 visitors, it broke its own record, yet again. 3,300 journalists from 46 countries filed reports from the industry's key event. Foreign trade visitors accounted for a share of 46 per cent in 2007. The GC is accompanied by the GC Developers Conference; the industry sees this as the most important developers conference in Europe, with 940 conference delegates.

The Games Convention Asia (GCA) in Singapore is the only trade show event for the Asian-Pacific region with a focus on interactive entertainment, infotainment, edutainment, hardware and technology. After its successful premiere in 2007 bringing in more than 70,000 visitors, the second event is now being held from 18-20 September. The GCA is accompanied by the Games Convention Asia Conference (GCAC).

Contact for the press:

Heike Fischer

Director, Press Department

Phone: +49 (0) 341 678 8181

Fax: +49 (0) 341 678 8182

E-mail: h.fischer@leipziger-messe.de

GC - Games Convention on the Internet:

http://www.gc-germany.com

Games Convention Asia on the Internet:

http://www.gc-asia.sg

Leipziger Messe on the Internet:

http://www.leipziger-messe.de