TRION WORLD NETWORK RAMPS UP GLOBAL PUBLISHING EFFORTS AND ONLINE MARKETING WITH KEY EXECUTIVE HIRE, FREDERIC DESCAMPS
Former Xfire Senior Executive Frederic Descamps to Focus on Developing Trion's Social Network Platform, Maximize Player Acquisition, Establish Trion's European Publishing Presence
Redwood City, Calif. - Dec. 4, 2007 - Trion World Network, Inc. (Trion), the publisher and developer of server-based games and original entertainment for the connected era, has hired Frederic Descamps as senior director, worldwide marketing. Descamps will bring his extensive skills in community building and global online marketing to Trion's executive team. Descamps is also charged with rolling out European operations, with a focus on marketing.
"We are excited to have Frederic join the senior ranks of Trion's marketing team," said Peter Matiss, vice president, marketing and sales. "His hands-on experience implementing highly successful online marketing campaigns and his deep understanding of growing online communities provides Trion with the right expertise to launch our groundbreaking new capabilities and content on a global scale."
Descamps joins Trion with more than eight years of experience in marketing and management within the technology and gaming industry. He spent the last four years as senior director of marketing and business development of Xfire, the fastest growing online gaming platform and community in the world. As the head of marketing, he was responsible for marketing strategy and execution as well as overseeing community management. Throughout his time at Xfire, Descamps executed more than a hundred complex online marketing campaigns for major brands including Blizzard, Cadbury Stride, EA, Fox, Intel, Pepsi and Unilever and helped grow the company's user base to more than 8.5 million.
At Trion, Descamps will take on core online marketing responsibilities, which will include maximizing Trion's next generation social network platform and player acquisition. Descamps will also focus on European marketing operations, reinforcing Trion's global presence.
"Trion's momentum in building an unparalleled entertainment experience for the connected world is inspiring," Descamps said. "I'm thrilled to join this highly creative team at the growth stage and help build a player base worldwide to experience the future of server-based interactive entertainment."
Led by Dr. Lars Buttler, former vice president for Global Online at Electronic Arts, and Jon Van Caneghem, former founder and CEO of New World Computing and creator of the best-selling Might and Magic and Heroes game franchises, Trion has assembled a world-class team of gaming and online veterans with proven success and talent in business, original content development and technology who have developed and shipped more than 100 original titles.
Recently, Trion announced the creation of a San Diego-based development studio headed by former Sony Online Entertainment veteran Nicholas Beliaeff and a 30 million dollar round of funding led by Rustic Canyon Partners, the LA-based VC firm with strong ties to the media and entertainment industry. Time Warner, a leading media and entertainment company, GE/NBC Universal's Peacock Equity Fund, as well as Bertelsmann Digital Media Investments (BDMI), a unit of global media company Bertelsmann AG, Europe's leading entertainment group, invested side-by-side, strengthening Trion's unique ability to bring a new level of original entertainment to the broadband era on a global scale. Existing Trion investors, DCM and Trinity Ventures also participated. With offices in the San Francisco Bay Area, Austin and now San Diego, Trion is poised to emerge as a premium publisher and developer of innovative server-based games, created by top global talent.
About Trion World Network
Trion World Network, Inc. is the publisher and developer of server-based games and social entertainment for the connected world. Trion provides groundbreaking new capabilities and content to revolutionize global entertainment by combining the best elements of online, gaming, and traditional media. Headquartered in Redwood City, California, and with development and technology studios in Austin, Texas, and San Diego, CA, Trion combines unrivaled experience and vision in the online entertainment industry with a world-class team of internet and gaming veterans. Privately held, Trion investors include Time Warner, NBC-Universal, GE, Bertelsmann, Rustic Canyon, DCM and Trinity Ventures.
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