Infogrames appoints new executive VP

Atari parent company Infogrames Entertainment has the announced the appointment of Mathias Hautefort as executive vice president of worldwide publishing and production.

Hautefort will develop the company's IP and manage product development for both internal and external studios. He will also oversee global operations.

Hautefort has previously worked for the French Government, acting as technical advisor to several ministers, and cable operator Noos, where Infogrames chairman and chief executive officer Patrick Leleu was CEO between 2001 - 2005. Most recently, Hautefort was CEO of Viaccess S.A., a division of France Telecom.

Leleu commented, "I am pleased to welcome Mathias Hautefort, whose arrival will reinforce the top management at Infogrames. His international experience, his organisational and management skills and his sales experience in new medias and new technologies are important qualities that will help make Infogrames industrially competitive once again."

Hautefort added, "This company, which has defined the exciting video games industry for the last 20 years, is facing new challenges. My goal, along with Patrick Leleu, is to create a worldwide publishing hub for video game production and development that will benefit from both internal know-how and necessary partnerships while being on the lookout for opportunities created by current changes in the market."

News of Hautefort's appointment comes just weeks after Atari US named Arturo Rodriguez as temporary CFO. The company has been undergoing a reorganisation of its top level management structure since Infogrames founder Bruno Bonnell left earlier this year.