Sega Announces New Marketing Divisions, New Group Marketing Director

As part of the company's transition from video game hardware manufacturer to platform-agnostic third party publisher, Sega of America is expanding its marketing organization into two focused divisions -- sports and entertainment properties. Sega will also begin hiring personnel immediately into the expanded marketing organization. To this end, Sega announced the addition of Mike Fischer to the Sega marketing team as group director of product marketing for the entertainment division. Fischer brings more than eleven years of experience in video game marketing to Sega. As group director, Fischer will be responsible for managing all strategic and outbound marketing efforts -- including positioning, advertising and channel marketing -- for all of Sega's character-based, action, adventure, role-playing, fighting, driving and puzzle games. He will oversee the expanding marketing team for entertainment properties and more than 50 SKUs across all gaming and non-gaming platforms this fiscal year. Prior to joining Sega, Fischer worked at Namco Hometek, Inc., where he served as both director of marketing and director of business development. Sega also announced a new position for one of the company's key executives. Charles Bellfield, formerly vice president of corporate and marketing communications for Sega, will now serve as vice president of business strategy and corporate affairs. Bellfield will be responsible for corporate communications, strategic planning and the management of investor relations with Sega Corporation in Japan. Additionally, Bellfield will serve as a primary contact for all of Sega's gaming and non-gaming hardware partners.