Nickelodeon Games Appoints Management Positions
The Nickelodeon Kids and Family Games Group, recently formed to provide its audiences with innovative gaming experiences, made several new key management appointments. David Bergantino has been named VP of Premium Games Production; Shaan Kandawalla, VP of Retail and Licensed Games; and Pete Banks, VP of Engineering. The announcements were made by Dave Williams, SVP and GM, Nickelodeon Kids and Family Games Group, to whom the team will continue to report.
In Bergantino's new role, he will oversee the production and creative of all licensed and self-published premium games across Nickelodeon Kids and Family Games Group's many platforms. He will be responsible for building the publishing business for AddictingGames and Shockwave, as well as Nick's self-publishing business on connected console and new platforms such as: XBLA; Nintendo's WiiWare; and Apple platforms. Additionally, Bergantino will manage production relationships with partners including: THQ; 2KPlay; Capcom; Microsoft; Nintendo; and Sony.
A veteran of the interactive industry, Bergantino has been an independent producer, designer and writer for clients including: Sony Computer Ent. - Europe; Midway Games; Eurocom Developments; Gizmo Games; Westwood Games; Surfmonkey.com; and The Learning Company. Prior to joining Nickelodeon, Bergantino was Head of Game Design for Visual Science in Scotland. He began his career with Disney Interactive and has held positions with The WB Network and Jim Henson Interactive. He holds a bachelor of fine arts degree in screenwriting from New York's School of Visual Arts.
In Kandawalla's newly expanded role, she will act as the liaison between the games team and related Consumer Product group overseen by Manuel Torres, Senior Vice President, Nickelodeon and Viacom Consumer Products. She will be responsible for console and retail game partnership development across the Kids and Family portfolio and Shockwave, AddictingGames, Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. properties, including: ICARLY; THE NAKED BROTHERS BAND; SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS; and DORA THE EXPLORER; among others.
Previously as Director of Digital Games, she successfully helped build and manage partnerships with companies including: THQ; Take Two Interactive; Capcom; and Activision. Kandawalla played a key role in the business development of co-branded digital games like SPONGEBOB MONOPOLY, SPONGEBOB GAME OF LIFE, and DORA CANDYLAND, and managed the licensing negotiations for the first GO! DIEGO, GO!, THE BACKYARDIGANS and THE WONDERPETS! video game deals. She is currently working on partnership opportunities for NI HAO, KAI-LAN and AddictingGames. Kandawalla began her career at Goldman Sachs and most recently came to Nickelodeon from Hasbro. She holds a master's of business administration degree from Harvard University and a bachelor's degree in economics from Wellesley College.
Banks will lead the technical strategy and product planning for the Games Group's online businesses which includes: Shockwave; AddictingGames; and the Nick and Nick Jr. Arcade e-commerce sites. In his new role, he will oversee all site development and continue to evolve new e-commerce, community and social networking platforms to support the Group's online product initiatives. Banks has had more than six years of experience at Shockwave, where he has led major site development initiatives including the Shockwave Unlimited subscription platform and current site publishing systems. He began his career as the Engineering Manager at Rent.net, Move.com and Realtor.com, and is a graduate of Northwestern University.
As the Nickelodeon Kids and Family Games Group solidifies its structure, Kate Connally and Ambra Wellbeloved will continue to grow the Shockwave and AddictingGames business in their roles as vice presidents of AddictingGames and Shockwave, respectively.
In Bergantino's new role, he will oversee the production and creative of all licensed and self-published premium games across Nickelodeon Kids and Family Games Group's many platforms. He will be responsible for building the publishing business for AddictingGames and Shockwave, as well as Nick's self-publishing business on connected console and new platforms such as: XBLA; Nintendo's WiiWare; and Apple platforms. Additionally, Bergantino will manage production relationships with partners including: THQ; 2KPlay; Capcom; Microsoft; Nintendo; and Sony.
A veteran of the interactive industry, Bergantino has been an independent producer, designer and writer for clients including: Sony Computer Ent. - Europe; Midway Games; Eurocom Developments; Gizmo Games; Westwood Games; Surfmonkey.com; and The Learning Company. Prior to joining Nickelodeon, Bergantino was Head of Game Design for Visual Science in Scotland. He began his career with Disney Interactive and has held positions with The WB Network and Jim Henson Interactive. He holds a bachelor of fine arts degree in screenwriting from New York's School of Visual Arts.
In Kandawalla's newly expanded role, she will act as the liaison between the games team and related Consumer Product group overseen by Manuel Torres, Senior Vice President, Nickelodeon and Viacom Consumer Products. She will be responsible for console and retail game partnership development across the Kids and Family portfolio and Shockwave, AddictingGames, Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. properties, including: ICARLY; THE NAKED BROTHERS BAND; SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS; and DORA THE EXPLORER; among others.
Previously as Director of Digital Games, she successfully helped build and manage partnerships with companies including: THQ; Take Two Interactive; Capcom; and Activision. Kandawalla played a key role in the business development of co-branded digital games like SPONGEBOB MONOPOLY, SPONGEBOB GAME OF LIFE, and DORA CANDYLAND, and managed the licensing negotiations for the first GO! DIEGO, GO!, THE BACKYARDIGANS and THE WONDERPETS! video game deals. She is currently working on partnership opportunities for NI HAO, KAI-LAN and AddictingGames. Kandawalla began her career at Goldman Sachs and most recently came to Nickelodeon from Hasbro. She holds a master's of business administration degree from Harvard University and a bachelor's degree in economics from Wellesley College.
Banks will lead the technical strategy and product planning for the Games Group's online businesses which includes: Shockwave; AddictingGames; and the Nick and Nick Jr. Arcade e-commerce sites. In his new role, he will oversee all site development and continue to evolve new e-commerce, community and social networking platforms to support the Group's online product initiatives. Banks has had more than six years of experience at Shockwave, where he has led major site development initiatives including the Shockwave Unlimited subscription platform and current site publishing systems. He began his career as the Engineering Manager at Rent.net, Move.com and Realtor.com, and is a graduate of Northwestern University.
As the Nickelodeon Kids and Family Games Group solidifies its structure, Kate Connally and Ambra Wellbeloved will continue to grow the Shockwave and AddictingGames business in their roles as vice presidents of AddictingGames and Shockwave, respectively.
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