Turbine Management Team Shakeup

Turbine issued a press release yesterday confirming that Jeff Anderson has been replaced by Jim Crowley as company president and CEO. Even firing people can be seen as a positive if you use the right PR spin:

TURBINE’S MANAGEMENT TEAM POISED FOR LONG-TERM GROWTH

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 Onlineâ„¢ 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 Onlineâ„¢: Stormreachâ„¢, and The Lord of the Rings Onlineâ„¢: Shadows of Angmarâ„¢. 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.

About Turbine
Turbine, Inc. is a premier developer, publisher and operator of online entertainment and is headquartered in Westwood, Massachusetts. The company is the one of the largest privately-held online game companies in North America. Turbine’s catalog includes some of the most famous online entertainment brands, including The Lord of the Rings Onlineâ„¢: Shadows of Angmarâ„¢, Asheron’s Call®, and DUNGEONS & DRAGONS ONLINEâ„¢: Stormreachâ„¢. For more information on Turbine, its products and services please visit www.turbine.com.