Nintendo appoints marketer to lead UK
Nintendo has appointed former GlaxoSmithKline marketer Simon Kemp to lead its UK division at a pivotal moment for the gaming company.
Kemp joins Nintendo just days before the 30 November launch date of its Wii U console. The brand launched its first marketing activity for the console earlier this month.
The launch will be key to turning around Nintendo’s recent fortunes. Last month the company scaled back its annual profit forecast by almost 50 per cent due to growing competition in the gaming market from tablets and smartphones.
As general manager, Kemp directly replaces David Yarnton who left the company after almost 10 years in the role earlier this year.
All senior UK staff, including marketing and PR director Shelly Pearce, will report directly to Kemp. As well as steering the Wii U release in the UK, the team will also be responsible for continuing the sales momentum of the 3DS and 3DS XL handheld consoles in the region.
Prior to joining Nintendo, Kemp was responsible for developing the business plan and commercial integration of GSK’s £162m acquisition of the Maxinutrition business. At GSK he also previously held the roles of vice president of marketing and innovation and marketing director of Lucozade.
Kemp also held several marketing and brand manager level roles at Unilever from the early 90s until 2002.
