ECA Adds Former ESA Lawyer As VP, General Counsel

The Entertainment Consumers Association has promoted Jennifer Mercurio, its director of government affairs, to the role of vice president and general counsel. In the past, Mercurio has served as the Entertainment Software Asssociation's associate general counsel and state legislative affairs director. While the ESA is a trade group, the ECA represents video game consumers. Mercurio's new position will see her heading up a wide variety of the ECA's affairs, including legal matters, policy, and governmental concerns such as advocacy and lobbying. The ECA identifies itself as a non-partisan organization, and engages in political lobbying at the state and national level. It also conducts a charitable organization, works to improve the public image of games, and owns the GamePolitics blog. Said ECA president Hal Halpin in a statement, "Jennifer's track record of success speaks for itself along with her commitment to our advocacy mission for gamers. With the growing recognition of the demographic power of gamers we felt it important to expand her role to take advantage of our momentum on issues such as free speech, broadband access, and the rights of gaming consumers."