Atari Hires New Digital Strategy Boss

As it aggressively pursues a digital and social strategy, Atari has hired a new exec to oversee its PC and casual distribution in North America. Former business development consultant Alex Chung has been hired as the company's senior director of digital strategy and distribution. "Alex joins Atari as we continue to drive our business into the online market," says Atari president Jim Wilson. The publisher has been turning to the online business as its primary revenue strategy after a period of sales declines, and by the end of its first fiscal quarter this year, it grew online revenues 320 percent to account for 43.5 percent of its sales. "His strong background in casual and social digital distribution and strategic partnerships will reinforce and expand those revenue streams," Wilson says of Chung, who will report to him directly. Currently the publisher still depends heavily on traditional releases, however -- its most significant upcoming PC release is CD Projekt Red's The Witcher 2, although the company plans a series of titles for console downloadable platforms.