It's Official: Turbine Announces Staff Shake-up

Over the last couple of days, we've all been watching the pieces fall together in and around Turbine to shape up to some pretty radical changes in the leadership at Turbine. Just a few minutes ago, we got word these changes are truth.

WESTWOOD, MA - October 5, 2007 - Turbine, Inc., one of the largest privately-held online game companies in North America, announced today changes in its management team designed to position the company for long-term growth. Jim Crowley has been named president and CEO. The move is one of many that Turbine has recently made to invest in new talent that will drive the next wave of the company's growth including the addition of industry veterans Craig Alexander as Vice President of Product Development and Walt Yarbrough as Executive Producer.

Founded in 1994, Turbine is one of the first companies dedicated to creating massively multiplayer online role playing games (MMORPG). Over its 13 year history the company has grown from a small contract developer offering one of the first 3D online role playing games to an industry powerhouse operating three successful franchises. Crowley had been working with Turbine's management team for a number of months on a long-term strategic plan designed to build on the success of the company's most recent hit The Lord of the Rings Online™ before being named president and CEO. He will lead the efforts to maximize opportunities for Turbine's roster of franchises, as well as seek new revenue streams through a range of strategic initiatives already underway.

Crowley brings a wealth of operational experience to Turbine. As Chief Operating Officer of m-Qube, Crowley helped turned m-Qube into one of North America's largest mobile media companies. Prior to m-Qube, Crowley was Chief Operating Officer of Network Plus, Inc., one of the country's largest publicly traded competitive telecommunications and data providers. Crowley is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Law School and Connecticut College.

"I'm excited to have the opportunity to play a role in Turbine's continued growth and success," commented Crowley. "Turbine has an incredible team, industry leading technology and a portfolio of franchises that are without peer. I look forward to working closely with our entire team and our global business partners to continue to invest in, and accelerate, our domestic and international success."

As both a creative and technological innovator, Turbine has created three award-winning online entertainment franchises -- Asheron's Call®, Dungeons & Dragons Online™: Stormreach™, and The Lord of the Rings Online™: Shadows of Angmar™. Turbine's most recent title, The Lord of the Rings Online (www.lotro.com), has quickly become the second largest MMORPG*. MMORPG are a particularly hot segment of the video game industry as an increasing number of consumers turn to virtual worlds and online games for entertainment.

Official Turbine Site

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Facts:
According to an article published by Mass High Tech: Friday, May 18, 2007: The Journal of New England Technology on m-Qube execs,in it states this: "Like Glass, former COO Jim Crowley has moved to the venture capital world, as an entrepreneur in residence at Highland Capital Partners in Waltham."

http://masshightech.bizjournals.com/masshightech/stories/2007/05/21/story13.html?page=1

Then cross reference it with this article from California Technology Ventures, LLC: May 9, 2005 -- Turbine, Inc., a leading publisher of online subscription entertainment, today announced that it has secured $30 Million in Series B equity financing. Tudor Ventures and Columbia Capital led the new round with additional funding from existing investors Highland Capital Partners and Polaris Venture Partners.

http://www.ctventures.com/news.asp?ArticleID=196

James J. Crowley's Experience: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/3/72a/640

So, Crowley was on the board and now he's CEO. happens all the time.

I bet Anderson was burnt out and needed to take a break. He's been spearheading LOTRO for a very long time.

I don't think Anderson knew what was coming. The last trade show he was at he gave no indication that anything was going on. I think that he got bounced because somebody else on the board found a way to secure more capital. Plus, LOTR, while it is a success, isn't getting WoW like numbers (and there's no way that any MMO can) that the company's investors were probably hoping for.

SZARK of mmorpg posted this:

Just a quick update to this story, I was speaking with Adam Mersky, Director of Communications at Turbine, and he assures us that although the changes look abrupt from an outside point of view, these changes were planned some time in advance. The decision was made by their Board of Directors, which includes Jeff Anderson, and they decided that putting new people in new positions would benefit their long term growth strategy. Jeff Anderson is still on the Board of Directors and continues to work at Turbine.

jeffprime:
I don't think Anderson knew what was coming. The last trade show he was at he gave no indication that anything was going on. I think that he got bounced because somebody else on the board found a way to secure more capital. Plus, LOTR, while it is a success, isn't getting WoW like numbers (and there's no way that any MMO can) that the company's investors were probably hoping for.

Having met and spoke with Jeff Anderson, I don't think you would know either way. He keeps a professional face at all times.

The way you will know if this was a genuine shakeup vs. a long planned, organic transformation, is if other key people start leaving in the weeks ahead, or if major announced stuff (new Books, etc) suddenly change, cancel or postpone. If things stay quiet and content rolls out, it was probably the gentle adjustment Turbine PR says it is. If more upheaval ensues, you can bet it was a coup even if the losers are contractually unable to discuss it.

Delmar Wynn:

Having met and spoke with Jeff Anderson, I don't think you would know either way. He keeps a professional face at all times.

I'd sure hate to play poker with him then! :)