Mon, Apr 02, 2012 | 10:54 BST
GAME names new CEO after administration exit
GAME has named its new CEO as ex-employee Martyn Gibbs after exiting administration late yesterday.
Gibbs is an experienced hand in the industry and was first bought into GAME when the company purchased Gamestation, where he had been Managing Director.
He was a major component of GAME from 2007 on and eventually left the company in mid 2011. He’s also known for heading up the game arms of HMV and WH Smiths.
“I am delighted to be leading GAME back to success. Our immediate priority is to help the GAME and Gamestation teams, so they can give our customers a great Easter in our stores and websites,” Gibbs said in a statement, via MCV.
The first major task for Gibbs will likely be getting stock into stores for Easter – as many stores are approaching empty after several weeks of no deliveries and an impressive ‘Spring Clean’ sale which saw preowned stock heavily reduced.
It was also confirmed yesterday that David Hamid, a veteran of Dixons, MFI, Halfords and Nationwide would take the role of GAME’s Executive Chairman.
The deal signed yesterday will save the remaining 333 GAME stores and 3100 jobs.
8 comments
#1
Joe Anderson
02/04/12, 10:38 am
I don’t get how someone who was at GAME and obviously had a hand in some of the bad decisions made is a good appointment.
Maybe it’s just me. I’m not a retailer, but just saying.
#2
Alex Donaldson
02/04/12, 10:50 am
@Joe – If they’re going to attack the core gamer market again rather than chase the ghost of the Wii fad, hiring the man who ran Gamestation pre-GAME buyout is probably a wise decision.
Martyn seems to understand that market thanks to his Gamestation links but also understands the value that some of GAME’s approaches bought to bringing additional value to the business, as in places old Gamestation was probably too lax and GAME too pushy.
The approach needed is somewhere in the middle, I think – so surely someone who has experience of both is a good pick?
#3
alimokrane
02/04/12, 10:51 am
@ Joe Anderson:
They need to get back on their feet quick and they need someone that knows the company well. They simply cant hire someone else who does not. What they need to do is get their stupid pricing act together! They need to kow that they should be competing with the likes of Thehut, Zavvi. Pricing Gears of Wa 3 at 34.95 when Thehut is selling it at 9.95 is just plain stupid!
#4
Joe Anderson
02/04/12, 10:56 am
I understand what you guys are saying, but surely he had some influence when he was at GAME to at least suggest some of the things that need done now. I hope he is a great MD and turns the company around, after all it’s obvious to everyone what needs to be done. Let’s just hope he manages it so we can keep a retail presence on the high street.
#5
Goffee
02/04/12, 11:03 am
Start up an import section, that should get the core gamers flocking back!
And who needs publisher support when you can buy games cheap from the supermarkets to stock your own shelves with.
(Now GAME is saved, time to start kicking it again for all its pitiful inadequacies)
#6
G1GAHURTZ
02/04/12, 1:13 pm
It was game over, but they just used a continue…
#7
Len
02/04/12, 6:55 pm
Red card, your off.
#8
Marx n Engels
02/04/12, 9:32 pm
Wouldnt quite say Game is saved just yet – it is still a shop who only becomes popular around the Autumn release window. The rest of the year it might as well shut down. But at least it isn’t quite as dead as it was a fortnight ago.
http://joystuck.co.uk/news/3713-3100-game-jobs-saved