Last week we reported that Jack Emmert was appointed to the role of Cryptic CEO after John Needham departed the company to pursue other opportunities in the gaming industry. This week we know what those opportunities are. In a press release made earlier this morning, Gazillion Entertainment announced that John Needham has been named as the company's new CEO.

Previous to the position, Needham was CEO for Cryptic Studios and also held a position as Senior Vice President of Business Development and Operations for Sony Online Entertainment prior to that. Check out the official press release after the break.

Gazillion Entertainment Announces Former Cryptic Studios Chief Executive Officer John Needham as CEO

Joins Former Blizzard Exec David Brevik, Rob Hutter Becomes Chairman

SAN MATEO, Calif. –  March 11th -- Gazillion Entertainment announced today that John Needham, the former Chief Executive Officer of Cryptic Studios, has been named as CEO of the company. John brings over a decade of leadership, business development and financial experience in the entertainment and online gaming industries to Gazillion Entertainment. 

John has been a prominent figure in the video game industry since 2001. He served as Senior Vice President of Business Development and Operations at Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) where he managed business development, strategic initiatives, international operations, customer service and quality assurance for the company. Upon leaving SOE in 2008, John became the CEO of Cryptic Studios, guiding the company through its publication of several top MMOs and its acquisition by Atari.

“John’s leadership has been key to the commercial success of several of the most recognized MMO franchises in North America, “ said Rob Hutter, Founder and now Chairman of Gazillion. “I look forward to an exciting road ahead as John applies his considerable talents to the goals and vision of Gazillion.”

“We’re thrilled to welcome John to Gazillion,” said David Brevik, President and COO of Gazillion Entertainment. “John has an excellent reputation within the industry along with a deep understanding of the online gaming business. His knowledge and skills are a perfect match with the executive staff here.”

"I’m extremely excited to be a part of Gazillion” said John. “Like the team here, I believe that in the near future, rich console-quality games will be delivered through the browser. With great creative talent like David Brevik and massive brands like Marvel, we’re going to create browser-centric, free-to-play games that set a new standard for quality and deliver a deep, compelling experience.”

About Gazillion Entertainment

Gazillion Entertainment is a privately held developer and publisher of free-to-play online games for everyone. Gazillion’s games feature revered brands and original properties, superior production quality and unmatched gameplay. Gazillion Entertainment is headquartered in San Mateo, California.  For more information on Gazillion Entertainment and its studios please visit www.gazillion.com.