Sorenson Leaves Lucas

Jack Sorenson has stepped down as president of Lucas Arts Entertainment. Sorenson made the announcement late Thursday but did not specify what his future plans would be, saying only that he would take some time to work through his opportunities. The Lucas Arts board has promoted Simon Jeffery from his role of product development director to replace Sorensen as president. Jeffery joined Lucas Arts in 1998 to help expand the company's international business. "Former president Sorensen shaped the company's strategic direction, and I credit him with building LucasArts into one of the world's leading developers and publishers of interactive entertainment software," said Lucas Arts Board Chairman George Lucas. Sorensen's resignation follows closely on the heels of other high profile departures from the company, such as Tim Schafer and Aric Wilmunder. The Lucas Arts board also appointed May Bihir to the newly created position of vice president of worldwide sales and named Lucas Film executive vice president Micheline Chau as lead director of the Lucas Arts board.