EA Sports veteran appointed Chief Executive Officer at Battlefield, Mass Effect publisher, replacing John Riccitiello; says he envisions EA as the “world’s greatest games company;” will be paid $800,000 salary.
EA Sports veteran Andrew Wilson has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of Electronic Arts, it was announced today. Wilson replaces John Riccitiello, who resigned in March. EA considered internal and external candidates for the role.
Wilson most recently served at EA as executive vice president of EA Sports and Origin.
He will be paid an annual salary of $800,000 as EA’s new CEO, and his target bonus percentage will be 150 percent of his salary. Wilson released a statement on his appointment, the full text of which is available below.
“Let me start by saying I am deeply honored and humbled to become EA’s CEO. I have a profound respect and passion for this organization, as well as for our global community of fans, and I’m incredibly motivated to serve our people, our gamers and our shareholders at such an exciting time in our industry.
From my start at EA in Australia back in 2000, through stops in Asia, Europe and now North America, I’ve worked with people in this company who have consistently amazed and inspired me. It’s my passion for our people and the great products we all impact that gives me such excitement for our future. I hope you all feel the same level of energy and optimism that I do as we embark on this journey together.
I envision EA as the World’s Greatest Games Company. This is not about what we are aiming for or what we will become. Rather, it is about an unfaltering commitment to what we will be every day. This is an attitude that must drive our culture as one team.
I also believe EA’s strategy is sound. Our focus on our talent, our brands and our platform together with our investment in next-generation consoles, mobile and PC free-to-play, as part of our ongoing transition to digital, is right. But we have plenty of work ahead to ensure our collective success.
In the short term, our mission is crystal clear: We are 100 percent focused on delivering our FY14 business plan. We have made strong progress in the first half of the fiscal year, establishing financial discipline and continuing to create a slate of fantastic games for current and next-generation consoles, mobile and PC. But now we’ve got to finish the job–execute in Q3 and Q4 and deliver on the promises we made to our fans and our shareholders.
Looking ahead, my focus will be on three things:
1. Continued transformation for our digital future;
2. Delivering amazing games and services across platforms; and
3. Instilling a culture of execution that will drive profitable growth.
In the days and weeks ahead, I will provide a greater level of operational detail behind the plan that will make these goals a reality. I could not be more proud to lead you as CEO of EA. Thank you in advance for your support.”
EA executive chairman Larry Probst released a statement on behalf of EA’s board of directors regarding Wilson’s appointment to CEO. He said EA conducted a “rigorous search” for Riccitiello’s successor, and mentioned “several talented executives” from inside the company and out were considered. These people were not named.
“He is a compelling and charismatic communicator who cares deeply about organizational development, teams, and the individual careers of people who work for EA,” Probst said about Wilson. “Most of all, he has a powerful sense of respect for and commitment to our consumers.”
In support of Wilson’s transition to EA CEO, Probst will continue to serve as EA’s executive chairman for an indefinite period, earning a $1.03 million salary.
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