Electronic Arts splits gaming division into EA Entertainment and EA Sports

Publisher Electronic Arts announces a restructuring in which the games division will be split into EA Entertainment and EA Sports. The company retains its CEO Andrew Wilson, while several subdivisions get new top people.

EA Entertainment and EA Sports will become the umbrella divisions of the expected games and franchises under those names; EA Sports includes well-known sports games such as FIFA, Madden NFL and the F1 franchise. The EA Entertainment department will be responsible for all other games, including franchises such as Battlefield and Star Wars, as well as mobile games.

Laura Miele has been appointed president of the latter division and manages all studios under this department. Under Miele, Vince Zampella will lead the studios behind Apex Legends, Battlefield and the Star Wars games. Samantha Ryan continues to lead ‘lifestyle franchises and blockbuster single-player games’ and Jeff Karp also retains his position as the top executive behind mobile games studios.

Cam Weber remains president of the Sports department. The EA Experiences team will be led by David Tinson following the restructuring. Tinson takes over this position from Chris Bruzzo, who is retiring. CFO Chris Suh is also leaving the company; his place is taken by Stuart Canfield.

CEO Wilson mentions the restructuring the ‘next step of our strategy to align our studios under two organizations’. The new corporate structure should make financial accountability easier and give top people the space to make bigger and more creative decisions. Earlier this year, around six percent of all EA employees were laid off, again as part of a restructuring.