Representatives from Capcom USA have announced that the company has hired Germaine Gioia as its new senior vice president of licensing. Gioia previously held the same role at rival third party publisher THQ. Gioia boasts more than thirteen years of experience at THQ, which is well known for high profile licensed properties such as WWE wrestling, Power Rangers, SpongeBob SquarePants, The Punisher and various other Nickelodeon and Disney franchises. Reporting to senior vice president Mark Beaumont, Gioia has already begun work at Capcom USA, although with no indication of which licenses she may be handling. Historically the company has previously preferred to create its own intellectual properties, licensing only a select few such as Marvel Comics, Dungeons & Dragons and Spawn. However, the company has consistently stated its desire to focus more on titles aimed at a Western audience, a philosophy that appears to be one of the driving forces behind Gioia’s appointment. “Germaine Gioia brings a wealth of talent and a history of success to Capcom and is well qualified to support our growth plans,” said Mark Beaumont, senior vice president and officer, Capcom Entertainment, Inc. “Her TV, film and other industry relationships in conjunction with Capcom’s reputation for quality development will give us a seat at the table for any potential license, maximizing our ability to bring high quality entertainment content to all our consumers. She is an incredibly valuable and welcome addition to our growing management team.”