EA Vet John Schappert Joins Microsoft As Live VP

Officials have announced that former EA Tiburon founder John Schappert has joined Microsoft as the company's vice president of Live, software and services. From the newly created position, Schappert will oversee and help grow Microsoft's Xbox Live and Games For Windows – Live businesses, as well as XNA, Microsoft Casual Games, Windows Live Messenger, Windows games, and Xbox Live Arcade. The executive comes from major publisher and developer Electronic Arts, where he is recognized for having overseen numerous titles for the company, including the Madden NFL franchise, on which he worked originally as a programmer. Most recently, he worked within the company's central development services division, working closely with EA's central technology, operations, EA online, and the office of the chief creative officer. Prior to this, Schappert held other senior level roles at EA, including chief operating officer of worldwide studios, group general manager, and general manager of EA Canada and EA Tiburon. In his new role, Schappert will report to Don Mattrick, himself a former EA executive who recently replaced Xbox/Games for Windows corporate VP Peter Moore in July after Moore parted from Microsoft to join EA as the president of its EA Sports label. "I am thrilled to have John join the deep bench of proven talent already on Microsoft's Interactive Entertainment Business," Mattrick said. "John's expertise will help us focus on expanding and enriching our market leadership with Live in areas like online services while broadening our audience. John will also build on the great work already happening in the developer community working with Chris Satchell and the XNA organization."