Frank Keeling leaves mobile games publisher as it unveils plans to diversify into Facebook games.
Glu's EMEA managing director Frank Keeling has left the company, ME has learned.
The former Vodafone and RealNetworks exec joined the mobile games publisher in December 2007 to head its European activities, but his role has now been split between EMEA marketing director James Scalpello and EMEA sales director Olivier Bernard.
Both report to SVP of global publishing Jill Braff, who revealed the changes in an interview with ME. They're part of a wider restructure at Glu, which includes an ongoing search for a new CEO to replace Greg Ballard, who announced plans to step down earlier this year.
"A few years ago, it was ‘hey, we have people in Europe and Latin America, and everyone’s working on their own businesses’,” says Braff.
“Now what we’re seeing is that iPhone particularly is a global platform. So there’s things that James and his team will do in Europe with the carrier business, but increasingly we’re seeing the similarities and pulling close as a global team.”
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However, Glu has also been hiring a new team in the US to focus on social games on Facebook, including recruiting former Zynga exec Scott Derringer as its VP of social gaming.
"We recognised that we need to bring in the right sort of talent, so we can make standalone positive Facebook experiences much more in the vein of what we've seen from the Playdoms and Zyngas of the world," says Braff.
So far, Glu has launched two Facebook games in beta - Bonsai Blast and My Hangman - with other titles in development, including at least one Facebook-only game.
A move into other digital platforms such as PSP Minis and DSiWare could be on the agenda, too. "We have nothing to announce right now, but... as platforms become more digital, they become more in our wheelhouse," says Braff.
For the full interview with Jill Braff, including her thoughts on iPhone and Android, and more details on the social expansion, click here.
