LPWire: Graham Hopper Named Snr VP and GM, Buena Vista Games
Graham Hopper Named Senior Vice President and General Manager, Buena Vista Games, at Disney Consumer Products
Newly Established Division Continues to Publish Children's Titles Under Disney Interactive Label, as Well as Broadens Strategy to Produce Games For Additional Segments of the Interactive Market
Graham Hopper has been named senior vice president and general manager, Buena Vista Games, Inc., Andy Mooney, president of Disney Consumer Products (DCP) Worldwide, today announced. Hopper previously served as senior vice president, Global Business Development, for DCP.
Reporting to Mooney, Hopper will oversee product development, manufacturing, licensing, marketing and sales for Buena Vista Games. The division's strategy is to produce a portfolio of high profile, engaging, multi-platform electronic entertainment properties that reach a broad segment of the gaming market. Additionally, Buena Vista Games will maintain the Disney Interactive publishing label and continue to publish the company's award-winning interactive learning and entertainment children's titles.
To achieve its two core publishing initiatives, Buena Vista Games will access the wide range of successful intellectual content already developed by The Walt Disney Company and all of its subsidiaries, including feature films, television and publishing. One of the first titles to launch under Buena Vista Games is the highly anticipated, critically acclaimed action game TRON 2.0, shipping in August 2003.
"Graham is an 11-year Disney veteran with global entertainment consumer product experience," said Mooney. "His business acumen and enthusiasm for the gaming industry strengthens Buena Vista Games' strategic mission to attract new areas of the gaming market and to build upon the successes of Disney Interactive."
Hopper will also lead the direction of Buena Vista Games' licensing, co-publishing and distribution arrangements with gaming platform holders and leading third party publishers. Additionally, he will oversee the creation of original content that Buena Vista Games can extend from the gaming arena to other areas of The Walt Disney Company.
Previously, Hopper held key executive positions for DCP in the United States and Europe, and was extensively involved in the growth of Disney businesses in Japan. He has also served as head of operations and chief financial officer for Disney's global licensing business. In this capacity, he designed the expansion of Disney's merchandise licensing business worldwide. Hopper was also general manager of Disney Toys, where he led licensing negotiations and secured key relationships with toy industry leaders, including Mattel, Hasbro and Tomy. Hopper's extensive global management experience at The Walt Disney Company provides him with the expertise needed to successfully drive and grow Buena Vista Games.
Prior to Disney, Hopper spent three years with Pricewaterhouse in Cape Town, South Africa.
Hopper grew up in South Africa and graduated with honors, receiving a bachelor of commerce from the University of Cape Town. He went on to obtain a master of business administration degree and become a chartered accountant.
Hopper lives with his wife and child in Brentwood, Calif.
--Posted March 11, 2003
Source: Buena Vista Games, Inc.