Codemasters brand boss lands global marketing role

Codemasters, the computer games publisher and developer, has appointed Nicky Hewitt as global marketing director.

Hewitt replaces Ken Johnston, who left the company last month (MW June 2), and moves up from her position as group brand manager. Johnston left Codemasters without a job to go to.

It was initially believed that Codemasters was abolishing Johnston’s role, but the games company has since decided to promote Hewitt, who was previously marketing manager in the UK. She will report to senior vice-president of brand Barry Jafrato, who joined Codemasters from the now defunct Acclaim Entertainment, where he was managing director of international publishing.

Hewitt will be responsible for Codemasters’ global marketing, with an advertising budget of about &£10m, and will head a 40-strong marketing team in the UK as well as teams in France, Germany, Spain and the US. She has been with the company for more than six years. One of the first projects she will head is the launch of the 2005 version of popular video game Brian Lara International Cricket.

The appointment of Hewitt continues the management shake-up at Codemasters following venture capitalist Benchmark Capital Europe’s acquisition of a 40 per cent share in the business.

In May, Rod Cousens was appointed chief executive and Tony Williams was appointed to the new role of chief operating officer. Cousens was previously chief executive at Acclaim Entertainment and Williams arrived from Bam! Entertainment, where he was managing director and vice-chairman.