~ gaming publisher and developer selects global media hot shot ~

UTV Ignition Entertainment, a global independent games developer and publisher, has appointed former Fox Interactive Media executive, Justin Keeling, as its global strategy and product head.

Keeling will be responsible for launching the organisation’s global digital strategy. This focuses on a commitment to finding, nurturing, and curating the world’s best games industry talent and building sustainable new routes to market on new and emerging digital platforms.

“Justin brings over 15 years’ experience of the media and video games industry to us,” said Hassan Sadiq, chairman of UTV Ignition Entertainment. “His unique global understanding, combined with his unparalleled gaming product knowledge, board level industry contacts, professionalism and hands-on approach to the industry, will enable us to develop a new generation of break-out digital products in an increasingly crowded online market.”

Keeling joins from IGN, the leading gaming media outlet which he started and grew in the UK to over five million unique monthly UK users, and was also on the senior management team for Fox Interactive Media and MySpace. Previously he has also helped launch and grow G4 Television, Comcast's national TV network dedicated to gaming and technology. Whilst at Comcast, viewing figures for the ‘MTV for video games’ channel grew from zero to 65 million. Justin’s career has also taken him to Tokyo, where he worked as a technology editor for the BBC and sector consultant for Japanese investment banks.

“UTV Ignition Entertainment is at a crucial point in its development and has the vision and drive to take on a global leadership position in the emerging generation of digital direct-to-user gaming,” commented Keeling. “Joining UTV Ignition Entertainment is a great opportunity for me to help drive the next level of best in class, made-for-digital  content on multiple platforms, as the games industry moves away from a focus on number of titles sold, to sustainable models based around time spend and quality of engagement. We’re ready to invest in top tier talent and marketing to help create breakthrough titles for our development partners.

For further information on UTV Ignition please go to: http://www.utvignition.com/