GREE International promotes Sheppard to CEO

Andrew Sheppard is the new chief executive officer of GREE International Entertainment, taking the role just two years after joining the the company as COO.

"It's an honor and a privilege to be appointed CEO at such an exciting time when the company is transforming from a mobile games company to a major player in the larger interactive entertainment landscape," he said.

"I couldn't be more confident in the unique and innovative roadmap that we've created to help take us to the next level, and look forward to leading our teams to many great successes along the way."

Sheppard joined GREE in August 2014 after five years at rival Kabam. He was the company's president of worldwide studios when he departed.

The role of COO goes to Ryotaro Shima, who joined GREE in 2011 and previously served as the CEO of GREE UK in London and Senior Vice President of Corporate Operations at GREE headquarters in Tokyo.

"We are on the cusp of a major transformation, and there's no better candidate to lead GREE International Entertainment than Andrew Sheppard," added Yoshikazu Tanaka, CEO of GREE, Inc.

"Sheppard is a battle-tested leader with the right vision, deep mobile experience, and a commitment to excellence that's needed to get the job done. These qualities are just what GIE needs as we shift our focus to become a dominant force in the interactive entertainment landscape."