Atari Promotes Stocks In Sales/Marketing Areas
Wim Stocks has been promoted at Atari as evp, responsible for sales, licensing, marketing, distribution and logistics in North America, Latin/South America, Australia and the Pacific Rim region.
"There are very few people who can match Wim's depth of experience in the interactive entertainment industry, particularly in sales and marketing, which are so closely connected in our business," said Bruno Bonnell, chairman/ceo Atari (www.atari.com). "Atari is a global company with one of the most recognized brands in the industry, and by consolidating vital areas such as these under one person's leadership, we enhance our ability to deliver a cohesive message to our most important audiences: consumers and retailers."
Stocks oversees a sales/licensing force of more than 50 people, a product/brand marketing organization of 50 people and a product distribution network that services more than 22,000 outlets in North America, ranging from mass merchants and superstores to specialty stores, office superstores and wholesale clubs, as well as online retailers. In addition to distributing titles developed and acquired by Atari, the sales team also handles the distribution of the Ataris third-party and affiliate label product lines. He is also responsible for customer service and logistics, fulfillment, warehouse operations, manufacturing and for establishing sales policies and procedures, as well as product pricing structures.
Previously, Stocks was svp of sales, distribution and service for Atari since January 2000 when it acquired GT Interactive, where he had held the same position since 1998. Stocks joined GT Interactive in 1996 with sales and marketing oversight for its value division.
Prior to GTI, Stocks spent five years at Navarre Corp., holding marketing and sales positions in the company's digital entertainment subsidiary, which distributed and marketed interactive publishing products, and developed proprietary content for the entertainment software and music content categories. Stocks was with Lieberman Enterprises/LIVE Ent. for three years, where he served in several capacities. He held a variety of management positions within AT&T in Minneapolis, where he began his career in 1980.