CMP Game Group Parent Rebrands Into Think Services

Author: by Staff

Gamasutra, Game Developer magazine and GDC parent United Business Media has announced that it will restructure CMP Technology into four independent organizations tailored to specific areas, with CMP's Game Group, of which Gamasutra is a part, fitting into the new Think Services division. Going forward, though all current video game-related properties run by the company will continue under the same names, the CMP name will no longer be used, and a new brand name, Think Services, will encompass the former CMP Game Group [parent of Gamasutra], Dr. Dobbs and International Customer Management Group. Additionally, a new CEO, Philip Chapnick, has been appointed to lead Think Services, whose goal is to connect communities through interactive media, educational events, consulting, training and certification. In addition to the Webby Award-winning Gamasutra.com, its flagship products include the Game Developers Conference, the International Customer Management Institute, the Help Desk Institute and Dr. Dobb's Journal. The other new businesses include TechWeb, (formerly CMP's Business Technology Group) led by CEO Tony Uphoff; Everything Channel, (formerly CMP Channel), led by CEO Robert Faletra, and TechInsights (formerly CMP's Electronics Group), led by CEO Paul Miller. The new businesses will share support functions and infrastructure, including finance, IT services, legal and global account and sales management. These functions will integrate with UBM's U.S. infrastructure, and current CMP CFO Scott Mozarsky will take on the role of chief operating officer, also serving on the board of each business. UBM CEO David Levin said, "This is the next step in the strategic evolution of how we serve our technology market customers -- and we're doing it from a position of strength." He continued, "As our strong and improving results for 2007 show, each of the operations within CMP has been successfully serving its specific markets, but going forward, as independent and focused businesses, they will be able to get even closer to their audiences and customers, developing products and services for these communities faster and with focus. Concluded Levin, "At the same time, each business can take advantage of being part of UBM, a $2.5 billion corporation with a global infrastructure to support international expansion of their leading brands and content and a demonstrated track record of acquisitions and investment in new products."