Press release: 1997-03-04: MTV SENIOR MARKETING EXECUTIVE JOINS SEGA GameWorks

This is an unaltered copy of a press release, for use as a primary source on Sega Retro. Please do not edit the contents below. Language: English Original source: GameWorks (archived)

JOHN SHEA TO SPEARHEAD MARKETING AND SALES AT SEGA GameWorks

LOS ANGELES, March 4, 1997 - John Shea has been named Senior Vice President of Marketing and Sales for Sega GameWorks, the new entertainment venture inspired by DreamWorks SKG, Sega and Universal Studios, Inc., it was announced today by Michael Montgomery, president and COO, of Sega GameWorks. Shea, a well-known industry veteran, will be responsible for spearheading all marketing and sales related activities for Sega GameWorks including strategy development, consumer and trade advertising and GameWorks' global promotion and sponsorship programs.

Shea comes to GameWorks(TM) after nine years at MTV where he was responsible for building the MTV brand, most recently as Senior Vice President of Marketing. Shea was instrumental in developing long term strategic partnerships with major MTV advertisers, initiated the cable channel's first television advertising campaign, helped launch and market MTV worldwide and oversaw marketing for the brand's consumer products division. Prior to MTV, he was an account supervisor at BBD&O.; Shea will report directly to Michael Montgomery.

"John made his career building a brand for MTV when it was first beginning to expand," said Montgomery, "and we're confident he will grow the GameWorks brand to a national and international level. GameWorks is redefining the future of entertainment and John has the vision, talent and expertise to successfully guide our marketing and sales efforts. We are thrilled to welcome him to the team."

GameWorks is a new concept in social interaction and entertainment, combining the entertainment industry's best technology and theme park scale to create a high energy world for adults. Following an aggressive roll-out plan, GameWorks will open 100 facilities by the year 2002. The premier location will open in Seattle, WA on March 15, 1997.

GameWorks recently announced an alliance with MTV to broadcast live from the premier Seattle opening on March 15, 1997. The special will include an on-site tour of the unique environment, profiles of major new games and technologies, celebrity interviews and game competitions, and special superstar musical performances.

GameWorks is the main business of Sega GameWorks L.L.C. Other Sega GameWorks activities include Games Operations, which owns and operates numerous arcade and SegaCity(TM) locations, and Game Sales, the exclusive distributor of Sega arcade games for North and South America. The managing members of Sega GameWorks are wholly-owned subsidiaries of each of Sega Enterprises, DreamWorks SKG and Universal Studios, Inc. Universal Studios, Inc. is a unit of The Seagram Company Ltd., a global beverage and entertainment company.