IGA Worldwide In-Game Ad Firm Board Adds Deering, Nelson

In-game ad firm IGA Worldwide has announced that former President of Sony Entertainment Europe, Chris Deering and Vice Chairman of Omnicom, Bruce Nelson have joined the board of the game, following its $12 million investment from Easton Capital Group, Morgenthaler Ventures and DN Capital. During his 20 years at Sony, Deering was COO of the International Division of Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, and thereafter both established and headed the Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) division, where he masterminded the launch of PlayStation 1 and 2 as well as PSP. In 2004, he received the inaugural Interactive Industry Award from BAFTA for his outstanding contribution to the games industry. He has also recently joined both the board of game firms Codemasters and RedOctane. "The in-game advertising sector is growing at a phenomenal rate and it has generated a tremendous buzz that could not be ignored," said Deering. "Having witnessed and enjoyed the growth of the games sector, l knew that in-game advertising would be a space with huge growth potential and the opportunity to lead the gaming industry in an exciting new direction," he added. Having recently been appointed Vice Chairman at Omnicom, Bruce Nelson brings more than 25 years of experience in senior positions at leading global advertising conglomerates, most recently as Chief Marketing Officer of IPG and prior to that Vice Chairman at Young and Rubicam Inc. and Executive Vice President of McCann Erickson Worldwide. "The fact that we have attracted such major heavyweights to our board from both the videogame and advertising sectors is a great endorsement of both IGA and the in-game advertising industry as a whole", said Justin Townsend, CEO at IGA Worldwide.