ELSPA’s Bennett To Retire

Officials from British industry body ELSPA (Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association) have announced that the organization’s director general, Roger Bennett, is to retire at the end of July 2006, after more than sixteen years in the job. Bennett has run ELSPA since 1989, and has been one of the most visible figureheads within the British industry. He oversaw the introduction in 1994 of the UK’s first voluntary age rating system, the creation of the weekly sales charts compiled by Chart-Track, the commissioning of an annual industry report and was also involved in the development of a new constitution for the industry’s European representative body in Europe, the ISFE. As the primary spokesman for the British games industry Bennett has been a main point of contact between the industry and the media and government. His relationship with the latter has certainly been less fractious than in other countries, with no major government legislation ever having been brought against games during his tenure. On his retirement, Bennett commented: "Having been in the industry since 1985 and at ELSPA virtually since it formed, the last sixteen years have been a helter-skelter ride of continuous challenges and shared hopes and aspirations for the industry. Now, finally, perhaps there is a greater sense of confidence for the future as another milestone is reached, with a new, exciting generation of games systems due at the end of this year and into 2006. I therefore believe the middle of 2006 is as good time as any to hand over the baton. Of course I will miss working with ELSPA hugely." "No doubt the challenges to be faced by ELSPA will intensify as the industry becomes recognized as being at the cutting edge of screen entertainment", he added. "It's been a wonderful experience and I feel extremely lucky to have worked in such a vibrant industry with so many for so long. Still, there is much to be done even over the next seven months in which I'll continue to work hard on behalf of the friends and colleagues I have come to know so well in my time in the games industry."