Rawlinson Promoted To Head Of ELSPA

Michael Rawlinson has been promoted to director general of ELSPA, the UK based Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association. Rawlinson is currently managing director of ELSPA and has been with the trade association since 1999. He takes the role previously held by Paul Jackson, who will still be involved with the organization in an advisory role. As managing director, Rawlinson played a key role in developing the PEGI pan-European voluntary age rating system. Much of his focus as director general will also be on age classification issues resulting from last year’s Byron Review. Rawlinson is also the video game industry representative on the executive board of the UK Council for Child Internet Safety –- the establishment of which was a key recommendation of the Byron Review. "We greatly thank Paul Jackson for his dedication and commitment over the past two and a half years, establishing ELSPA as a key conduit between the video games industry and the UK Government,” said chairman Andy Payne. "Michael has excelled under Paul's leadership and is now absolutely ready to take the role as Director General and lead ELSPA into the future."