GAME restructures senior management team
David Howard named UK MD as CMO and Commercial Director departs
UK retailer GAME has restructured its senior management team, GamesIndustry.biz can reveal.
David Howard, UK retail and property director, has taken the role of UK MD for the firm. He will now oversee all commercial and marketing teams.
That means chief marketing officer Natalie Amosu, who only joined GAME full-time last August, is no longer with the firm. She was previously part of ASOS and the Arcadia Group before joining GAME early last year on an interim basis. Commercial director David Rimmer, who has been at the chain since 2015, has also left the business.
GAME's events business continues to report to CEO Martyn Gibbs.
As part of the changes Sarah Hodgson will also take on an expanded remit as UK Finance Director.
The changes comes as GAME tries to transition its business in the face of a challenging UK retail landscape, which has seen the closure of game chains Games Centre and Grainger Games this year, alongside long-standing indie games website Gameseek.
So far in 2018, UK game physical unit sales are down 6.9%, while revenue is down 5.3% (UKIE/GFK figures). A weaker software line-up and the increase in digital are the primary reasons for the drop in sales, although store managers are optimistic over a stronger year-end that includes Red Dead Redemption 2, Fallout 76, Call of Duty: Black Ops IIII, Assassin's Creed Odyssey, FIFA 19 and Battlefront V.
Meanwhile, GAME is continuing to close unprofitable stores, whilst also open new Belong arenas - dedicated gaming area where customers can pay to play PC titles. The firm has also partnered with Sports Direct to open Belong arenas within its locations, too.