In a significant development for one of the industry’s leading game developers, Electronic Arts is set to divide its operations into two separate organizations, EA Entertainment and EA SPORTS. The decision, announced by CEO Andrew Wilson, is seen as a strategic move intended to empower EA’s creative teams and drive long-term growth.
The splitting of EA’s business aims to facilitate the company’s strategic vision. It empowers studio leaders with increased creative ownership and financial accountability, enabling more swift and insightful decision-making around development and go-to-market strategies. The end goal is to spur growth and deliver long-term value for their teams, players, and communities.
EA Entertainment will encompass owned and licensed intellectual property (IP), including numerous high-profile franchises and innovative new experiences. Laura Miele, a veteran within the company, has been named as the President of EA Entertainment, Technology & Central Development. Miele’s role will involve overseeing key studios, while continuing to lead central technology and development services.
Alongside Miele, Vince Zampella will head up studios responsible for games such as Apex Legends, Star Wars, and Battlefield. Samantha Ryan will remain focused on leading lifestyle franchises and single-player experiences. Jeff Karp will continue to oversee mobile gaming, aiming for significant growth on this dominant platform.
On the other hand, EA SPORTS will cater to the company’s sports-focused properties, engaging with their extensive online communities. Cam Weber has been appointed as President of EA SPORTS and will guide the organization responsible for genre-leading EA SPORTS experiences and the entire racing portfolio. The ambition is to grow this division by building the EA SPORTS FC and American football franchises into connected multi-platform ecosystems.
To connect and engage fans both in and around the games, the newly appointed EVP and Chief Experiences Officer, David Tinson, will lead the EA Experiences team. This team will develop and scale services and capabilities across various sectors, including Commercial, Marketing, WWCE, EAX, and Positive Play.
The company also shared the news of Chris Bruzzo’s impending retirement and the departure of Chris Suh. EA’s new EVP and Chief Financial Officer will be Stuart Canfield, bringing with him two decades of experience in global finance, investor relations, and operational leadership roles.
The four executives – Stuart, Laura, Cam, and David – will collaborate with studio leaders over the coming months to integrate these organizational changes into franchise teams and improve operational rigor. EA’s Chief Strategy Officer, Mihir Vaidya, will now report directly to CEO Andrew Wilson.
Source: EA Blog
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