Jobs roundup: Daybreak Austin appoints Cryptic's Jack Emmert as new CEO

It can be difficult keeping track of the various comings and goings in the games industry, which is why we've decided to start compiling them in semi-regular round-ups. If you have new appointments or transitions in your company that belong here, please get in touch with us here.

Daybreak appoints Jack Emmert as CEO of Austin studio - Cryptic Studios co-founder Jack Emmert has joined Daybreak Games to lead its studio in Austin, Texas. Emmert helped to start Cryptic back in 2000, holding multiple executive roles over the next 15 years, including CCO, COO and, for the last 5 years, CEO. During his time at the company Cryptic shipped a number of high-profile MMOs, including City of Heroes, City of Villains, Champions Online, Neverwinter and Star Trek Online. Emmert, a "lifelong comic book fan," will be CEO of the studio responsible for DC Universe Online.

Simon Kemp departs Nintendo UK - After more than three years as its general manager, Simon Kemp has decided to move on from Nintendo UK. A statement from Nintendo of Europe confirmed that Kemp will be pursuing a "change of career," and that Stephan Bole, sr. managing director of Nintendo's European subsidiaries and affiliates, will take over the position on an interim basis. Nintendo UK will announce a permanent successor in due course

Supermassive Games boosts VR team with three new hires - Until Dawn developer Supermassive Games has added three experienced UK developers to its VR-focused Guildford studio: former Lionhead audio director Steven Brown joins the company in the same role; Gary Napper will join as game director, following a successful stint at Creative Assembly during which he was design director on Alien: Isolation; and Criterion and Codemasters veteran Ian Palmer will be the new art director, bringing with him a year working on a PlayStation VR project at SCEE.

Battleborn writer leaves Gearbox Software - Aaron Linde has announced his departure from Gearbox, where he worked on the recently released multiplayer shooter Battleborn. Prior to that, Linde worked at Microsoft Game Studios and Airtight Games, and on his next opportunity he has revealed only that it lies somewhere in the Pacific Northwest. Linde's Twitter account contains more hints, and a smattering of anti-Texas sentiments.

BAFTA appoints new chair - Jane Lush has succeeded Anne Morrison as the chair of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, commonly known as BAFTA. Lush has been deputy chair for one year, and she will occupy her new role for another two. Her background is in television, starting as a factual programme-maker at the BBC before becoming its controller of daytime TV and then controller of entertainment and comedy. Lush was also the founding chair of the BBC's Performing Arts Fund charity

Talbott Roche joins EA's board of directors - Electronic Arts has appointed Talbott Roche, CEO of the prepaid and payments company Blackhawk Network, to its board of directors and its compensation committee. According to EA CEO Andrew Wilson, the decision was motivated by Roche's, "understanding of digital commerce, marketing and consumer trends."