IGDA names Jen MacLean as its new interim executive director

The International Game Developers Association (IGDA) has named Jen MacLean its interim executive director. Her appointment follows the departure of former executive director Kate Edwards, who stepped downat the end of June before joining mental health charity Take This.

In MacLean’s new role, she will continue to work closely with the IGDA’s board of directors, and has already identified at least one major issue facing today’s game developers that she aims to make one of her top priorities.

Anindustry veteran with over twenty years of experience and a member of the IGDA since 2000, MacLean has already served three years on its board of directors, and has been the managing director of the IGDA Foundation for over a year.Previously, MacLean worked as the programming director of games at AOL, the vice president and general manager of games at Comcast Interactive Media, the CEO of 38 Studios, and the president of StoryArc Media.

The search for a permanent replacement, meanwhile, is ongoing, and will be named sometime in Q2 2018, the IGDA said.

With hundreds of higher education institutions around the world offering game development courses, online resources enabling enthusiasts to teach themselves, and an explosion of independent studios, it is now easier to become a game developer than at any point in the history of our craft,” MacLean said.

At the same time, with the massive amount of content released on PC, mobile devices, and even consoles, it has never been more difficult for game developers to succeed in their chosen pursuit. The IGDA must take a leadership position in empowering developers to succeed through connecting them to peers, resources, and opportunities in their local communities and around the world.”

David Stelzer, the chair of the IGDA board of directors and manager of business development and engine licensing at Epic Games for the Americas and Australia, added:Jen’s experiences in game development, managing the IGDA Foundation, and serving as a member of the IGDA Board of Directors make her uniquely suited to lead the association into a new era.

Her understanding of our industry and commitment to our craft will be invaluable for expanding the value of the IGDA for individual game developers, studio affiliates, and partners.”