Nintendo revises European team after marketing head Gosen quits

Nintendo has reshuffled its European marketing team in the wake of the resignation of marketing and sales chief David Gosen.

Gosen, who is joining wireless entertainment company Digital Bridges as chief operating officer, has been in charge of Nintendo’s continental and UK marketing for the past five years as managing director, sales and marketing.

He oversaw the European launch of the Nintendo’s GameCube console, which has struggled against Microsoft’s Xbox and Sony’s PlayStation 2 despite price reductions.

Analysts partly blamed poor sales of the GameCube for the company’s first financial loss in its 40 years as a listed company last year.

Prior to working for Nintendo, Gosen was marketing and distribution director at BSkyB.

He has also served as marketing director at Pizza Hut and head of direct marketing at One-2-One.

Gosen, who will leave at the end of August, will be replaced by head of marketing Jim Merrick, who will hold the position of senior director of European marketing.

Merrick will report directly to Nintendo Europe president Satoru Shibata. Tim Freystedt, European marketing manager, will be promoted to senior European marketing manager under Merrick.

Merrick’s first task will be to launch the hand-held Nintendo DS gaming console (MW, February 12). To help with the launch, Nintendo has appointed Geoff Howe Marketing Communications as its first retained direct marketing agency.