TIDMKWS
RNS Number : 2268M
Keywords Studios PLC
20 September 2021
20 September 2021
Keywords Studios plc
("Keywords Studios", "Keywords")
Appointment of Chief Executive Officer
Keywords Studios, the international technical and creative
services provider to the global video games industry, is pleased to
announce the appointment of Bertrand Bodson to its Board as Chief
Executive Officer. The appointment follows the announcement, in
June, that Andrew Day had decided to bring forward his retirement
plan. Bertrand's appointment as CEO will be effective from 1
December 2021.
Bertrand, 46, brings deep experience in driving and executing
growth strategies for international businesses gained throughout
his 23 year career through establishing new business models and
innovative platforms, developing strategic partnerships,
international expansion and digital transformation.
He joins from global healthcare leader Novartis where, in his
role as Chief Digital Officer since 2018, and as an Executive
Committee member, he led the digital transformation of the
business, leading large scale teams, securing a number of strategic
partnerships and playing a key role in the development of its
corporate culture for 100,000 colleagues.
Bertrand previously spent four years as Chief Digital and Chief
Marketing Officer at Sainsbury's Argos where he led the
transformation from a traditional catalogue business to the third
largest online retailer in the UK. He subsequently led the
integration of Argos into the Sainsbury's store network.
Bertrand's previous experience includes senior roles at EMI
Group, Bragster.com (which he co-founded) and Amazon, and he is
currently a non-executive director of Tesco plc and Wolters Kluwer
N.V.
Ross Graham, Chairman of Keywords Studios, said:
"We are delighted to have attracted a candidate of Bertrand's
calibre to lead Keywords through the next phase of its development
in the video games and adjacent content industries.
"Bertrand brings an ideal skillset to leading our ambitious,
international business given the breadth of his experience in
shaping and executing growth strategies and engendering strong
cultures at some of the world's leading businesses. This expertise
will be invaluable as we continue to grow across multiple
territories to cement our position as the 'go-to' provider of scale
within our industry, globally.
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank Jon Hauck and
Sonia Sedler who, as our joint interim CEOs, have ensured the
business has continued to go from strength to strength, and who
look forward to working closely with Bertrand when he joins."
Bertrand Bodson, Chief Executive Officer designate of Keywords,
said:
"I am excited to join Keywords as a proven market-leader with a
clear opportunity to continue to grow its services, reach and
scale, and to capitalise on its integrated full service offering,
in a global yet fragmented market.
"Building on its successful organic and acquisitive growth track
record, its inclusive culture, customer focus and unique platform,
I'm looking forward to leading the Group's ambitious team to
deliver an ever more compelling proposition for this buoyant
market, and beyond."
Other than the previous directorships listed below, there is no
further information required to be disclosed pursuant to paragraph
(g) of Schedule 2 of the AIM Rules for Companies, in relation to
Bertrand Bodson's appointment to the board.
Bertrand holds or has held directorships in the five years
preceding his appointment at the Company as follows:
Current:
Tesco plc
Wolters Kluwer N.V.
Imalc SA
St Nicolas des Pres SA
Last 5 years
Electrocomponents plc
For further information, please contact:
Keywords Studios ( www.keywordsstudios.com
)
Jon Hauck, Joint Interim Chief Executive
Officer
Sonia Sedler, Joint Interim Chief
Executive Officer +353 190 22
Joseph Quinn, Investor Relations 730
Numis Securities
Stuart Skinner/Kevin Cruickshank/Will +44 20 7260
Baunton 1000
MHP Communications (Financial PR) +44 20 3128
Katie Hunt/James Midmer/Charles 8193
Hirst keywords@mhpc.com
This Announcement contains inside information for the purposes
of the market abuse regulation (EU No. 596/2014) as it forms part
of United Kingdom domestic law by virtue of the European Union
(Withdrawal) Act 2018 ("UK MAR").
About Keywords Studios ( www.keywordsstudios.com )
Keywords Studios is an international technical services provider
to the global video games industry. Established in 1998, and now
with over 70 facilities in 23 countries strategically located in
Asia, Australia, the Americas and Europe, it provides integrated
art creation, marketing services, game development, testing,
localization, audio and player support services across more than 50
languages and 16 games platforms to a blue-chip client base of over
950 clients across the globe.
Keywords Studios has a strong market position, providing
services to 23 of the top 25 most prominent games companies. Across
the games and entertainment industry, clients include Activision
Blizzard, Bandai Namco, Bethesda, Electronic Arts, Epic Games,
Konami, Microsoft, Netflix, Riot Games, Square Enix, Supercell,
TakeTwo, Tencent and Ubisoft. Recent titles worked on include
Anthem, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Valorant, League of Legends,
Fortnite, Clash Royale and Doom Eternal.
Keywords Studios is listed on AIM, the London Stock Exchange
regulated market (KWS.L).
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