Microsoft Taps EA Exec For New Position

Microsoft has created a new executive-level position to oversee part of its Interactive Entertainment Business division and named former Electronic Arts vice president John Schappert to lead it.Schappert's new position - corporate vice president of Live, software and services -will be responsible for Xbox Live, Games for Windows, XNA and Microsoft Casual Games.Schappert founded Tiburon Entertainment in 1994, which EA bought four years later. Schappert has since overseen the creation of hundreds EA games, including the Madden NFL series, which he originally worked on as a programmer, Microsoft said. Schappert's latest role at EA included oversight of central technology, operations, EA online and the office of the chief creative officer. Previously, Schappert held senior-level positions at EA including chief operating officer of worldwide studios, group general manager, and general manager of EA Canada and EA Tiburon. He will report to Don Mattrick, senior vice president of Microsoft's IEB division. The move is the latest is a series of recent executive swaps between the two industry giants. EA announced in July that it would hire high-profile MS games exec Peter Moore to be president of its sports division. Former EA president Mattrick, in turn, joined MS to head IEB. "I am thrilled to have John join the deep bench of proven talent already on Microsoft's Interactive Entertainment Business," Mattrick said. "John's expertise will help us focus on expanding and enriching our market leadership with Live in areas like online services while broadening our audience. John will also build on the great work already happening in the developer community working with Chris Satchell and the XNA organization."