Virgin takes on Infogrames md

Virgin Interactive, the games publishing arm of Virgin, has appointed Roy Campbell, managing director of rival Infogrames, to run its UK operation.

As UK managing director of Virgin Interactive, which publishes games such as Dino Crisis and Euro Superleague, Campbell will be responsible for overseeing the marketing of all the company’s existing and forthcoming software products.

Campbell, who spent three years at Infogrames – Europe’s largest computer games company – will report directly to Peter Bilotta, co-president of Virgin Interactive.

His appointment is part of Virgin’s strategy to take closer control of its individual European markets and follows the departure of the company’s European operating chief Sean Brennan last month.

Brennan’s departure came less than two months after Sean Ratcliffe, vice-president of marketing Europe, left Virgin Interactive to join rival software company Electronic House as franchise development director.

The company would not say whether it is looking for a replacement for Ratcliffe.

“Roy will be directly responsible for the day to day business of Virgin’s UK operation,” says Bilotta.

“His strong sales and marketing background and 13 years industry heritage can only help us continue to develop the potential of the UK market.”

Virgin Interactive was set up in 1983 and publishes software for all major gaming platforms, including Dreamcast and PlayStation.

Infogrames, which last month bought Hasbro Interactive for $100m (&£67m), was unavailable for comment on its plans for replacing Campbell.