Cryptic Hires Activision Vet As New CFO

Officials from massively multiplayer online (MMO) games developer Cryptic Studios have announced the appointment of Ed Roffman as the company’s new chief financial officer, an Activision veteran with a long history of overseeing acquisitions of technology companies. Roffman held several key financial appointments at Activision from 1979 to 1987 and from 1989 to 1991, including controller, vice president of finance and chief financial officer. He was a key contributor to Activision’s successful IPO (initial public offering) in 1983. Since leaving Activision Roffman has served as chief financial officer and chief operating officer of PC developer Palladium Interactive and oversaw the company’s sale to The Learning Company. He has also overseen the sale of several other non-games related technology firms to the likes of Sun Microsystems and Informics. With the cancellation of Marvel Universe Online by Microsoft, Cryptic Studios recently announced that the developer was working on a self-developed and self-published MMO called Champions Online, based on the superhero themed pen-and-paper role-playing game. The company has also announced today that is has chosen public relations firm Reverb Communications for all its future marketing and public relations. Reverb will be responsible for all corporate communications and consumer events from the company, as well as promotions for Champions Online. “We are extremely thrilled to bring Ed on board here at Cryptic Studios,” said Michael Lewis, president of Cryptic Studios. “His wide array of industry experience and general financial capabilities will be a huge help for our company as we get ready to roll into the Champions Online launch and beyond.”