Jobs Roundup: September 2023 | ESA hires Christianna Barnhart as SVP of government affairs

13.09.2023 - 20:03 / gamesindustry.biz / September

It can be difficult keeping track of the various comings and goings in the games industry, which is why we compile them in semi-regular round-ups.

If you have new appointments or transitions in your company that belong here, please send the names of the appointees, new role and company, and prior role and company to [email protected].

The ESA has hired Christianna Barnhart as its new senior vice president of government affairs.

Barnhart will report to CEO and president Stanley Pierre-Louis. She will oversee the trade association's advocacy on regulatory matters and state and federal legislation.

Her professional career includes experience working in the public and private sectors. Before her new role, she worked as senior counsel for the US Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation; she was in the role for four years.

Barnhart also had a five-year stint as charter communications vice president of regulatory affairs.

"I look forward to working with policymakers to demonstrate the powerful economic impact and positive benefits video games have on American lives," she said in the announcement of her hiring.

Guy Blomberg has been named as event director of DreamHack festivals.

In the role, he will lead the operations and rollout of events in the Americas.

Blomberg's career history includes serving as global gaming content director at ReedPop; he was with the company for eight years. He worked as program director with Xsolla and had a one-year stint as vice president of business development at Stride PR.

Blomberg also founded the virtual online event Games Industry Gathering in 2020.

In the announcement of his appointment, he said, "It's been a weird time for gaming events around the world the last few years, but it’s clear just how important it still is for the community to be able to get together in person and celebrate their passion."

Johannes Mang has been named head of studio at Rovio Stockholm.

He brings with him decades of experience within the games industry. In Mang’s previous role, he served as general manager of Remedy Entertainment’s Sweden branch.

He also had a 12-year stint at EA, where he last worked as executive producer of Firemonkey Studios.

Mang's game credits include Mirror's Edge and Battlefield: Bad Company.

In the hiring announcement, he said, "Feeling thrilled about returning to mobile and joining the talented team at Rovio Stockholm!"

Kirstin Whittle has joined Pipework Studios as vice president of business development and strategic partnerships.

Whittle's career in the games industry spans two decades. Her work history includes a three-year stint at Sumo Group as partnerships director.

She also served in a business development role at Keywords Studios subsidiary