Justin Keeling joins UTV Ignition
Former IGN exec handed responsibility for launching company's global digital strategy
UTV Ignition Entertainment, which earlier today announced it had rebranded (from Ignition Entertainment) and was pursuing a new focus on digital development and publishing, has appointed former IGN executive Justin Keeling as global strategy and product head.
The post will involve responsibility for launching the organisation's global digital strategy, including "finding, nurturing, and curating the world’s best games industry talent and building sustainable new routes to market on new and emerging digital platforms," according to a statement obtained by GamesIndustry.biz.
"Justin brings over 15 years' experience of the media and videogames industry to us," said Hassan Sadiq, chairman of UTV Ignition Entertainment in the statement. "His unique global understanding, combined with his unparalled gaming product knowledge, board level industry contacts, professionalism and hands-on approach to the industry, will enable us to develop a new generation of break-out digital products in an increasingly crowded online market."
And Keeling himself adds: "UTV Ignition Entertainment is at a crucial point in its development and has the vision and drive to take on a global leadership position in the emerging generation of digital direct-to-user gaming.
"Joining UTV Ignition Entertainment is a great opportunity for me to help drive the next level of best in class, made-for-digital content on multiple platforms, as the games industry moves away from a focus on number of titles sold, to sustainable models based around time spend and quality of engagement.
"We're ready to invest in top tier talent and marketing to help create breakthrough titles for our development partners."
Keeling was previously responsible for growing IGN in the UK to over 5 million unique users, as well as sitting on the senior management teams for Fox Interactive Media and MySpace, and prior to that helped launch G4 Television at Comcast.