Industry Veteran Gioia Reunites With THQ

Industry veteran Germaine Gioia has returned to publisher THQ as SVP, licensing and merchandising, after spending three years working in a similar capacity at Capcom Entertainment. Prior to her time at Capcom, Gioia had spent 14 years at THQ leading the WWE Smackdown publisher's licensing initiatives, THQ said Wednesday. She'll be working with THQ's business units on licensing and merchandising efforts, the company added. Gioia returns to THQ in a year where the publisher eliminated 24 percent of its workforce and reported fiscal year losses of $431 million. But the publisher saw the successful release of UFC 2009: Undisputed, and has high hopes of returning to profitability in fiscal 2010. Gioia said in a statement, "I am excited to return to a well-positioned and highly focused THQ. Today’s market offers many new opportunities for growth and I look forward to helping the THQ team build our portfolio of intellectual properties and broaden the exposure of our brands across entertainment mediums and other relevant markets." THQ CEO Brian Farrell added that Gioia will be "integral" in landing new intellectual properties for the publisher and "expanding the merchandising opportunities for our own brands." THQ has become known for its affinity for licensed brands such as Nickelodeon, Pixar, UFC, and WWE. But some original THQ franchises include Saints Row, Company of Heroes, and Red Faction, as well as the upcoming Darksiders.