Peter Moore Resigns From Microsoft!

[TTR Dr Payne]

Peter Moore Resigns From Microsoft to Return to Northern California

Don Mattrick appointed to head Microsoft’s Xbox and Games Business

REDMOND, Wash. — July 17, 2007 — Microsoft Corp. today announced that Don Mattrick, a former president at Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), will lead the Interactive Entertainment Business (IEB), which includes overseeing the Xbox® and Games for Windows® businesses. Peter Moore, who currently serves as corporate vice president of IEB, has decided to move his family back to the Bay Area for personal reasons and has secured another opportunity in the video games industry.

Mattrick will take over as the senior vice president of IEB at Microsoft, effective July 30. Mattrick was the founder of Distinctive Software Inc., which operated as a private company from 1982 until its merger with EA in 1991. Mattrick held various senior positions within EA, most recently as president of Worldwide Studios, until his resignation in February 2006. In February 2007, Mattrick began working with the Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft as an external advisor.

“Peter has contributed enormously to the games business since joining Microsoft in 2003 and we are sad to see him go,” said Robbie Bach, president of Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft. “Since that time, he presided over the global launch of the Xbox 360™, spearheaded a revitalized and rebranded Games for Windows business, and helped steer the console’s ascent.”

Moore has decided to return with his family to Northern California, where they lived until he took the position at Microsoft. Moore will remain at Microsoft to assist in the transition through August and will then return to the San Francisco Bay area.

“While Peter will certainly be missed, we are delighted to have one of the industry’s most talented and passionate veterans on board to lead the business,” Bach said. “Don is well-known and respected throughout the industry for his deep knowledge, technical expertise and management savvy. Under Don’s leadership, the games team is looking forward to embarking on our biggest holiday ever, with a wide-ranging roster of some of the most highly anticipated titles.”

Mattrick brings 23 years of games industry and development experience to the strong Microsoft management team, having helped bring to life such celebrated game franchises as the “Need for Speed,” “Harry Potter” and “The Sims” while at EA.

“Over the past two decades, and the past few months in particular, I’ve worked closely with many of Microsoft’s top leaders and I’ve always been impressed by their talent, passion and commitment,” said Mattrick. “I’m thrilled to join an already strong team that’s delivering truly amazing gaming experiences to customers around the world. I’ve never been more excited about the future of the industry, and firmly believe Microsoft will lead the next great innovations in gaming.”










Peter Moore resigns from Microsoft, replaced by Don Mattrick

114 Comments by James Ransom-Wiley Jul 17th 2007 4:10PM
Filed under: Microsoft Xbox 360, Business
giddyup!
Microsoft has announced the resignation of Peter Moore, current corporate vice president of the company's Interactive Entertainment Business. Moore will be replaced by former EA president Don Mattrick, who will become senior vice president of IEB on July 30. Mattrick joined Microsoft in February as a "strategic adviser."

Moore will remain with Microsoft through August, and then will return to his old stomping grounds in Northern California to begin a new, unspecified job in the games industry. Earlier today, 1UP cited a rumor that Moore was headed to EA Sports.

Update: The rumor has been confirmed. Moore will leave Microsoft in order to return his family to the Bay Area and head EA Sports.

Joystiq has a scheduled call with Microsoft later today. We'll bring you updates as they become available.







Robbie Bach and Don Mattrick talk to Joystiq about Peter Moore's departure

19 Comments by Christopher Grant Jul 17th 2007 5:58PM
Filed under: PC, Microsoft Xbox 360, Interviews, Business
the new peter mooreWe had a chance to speak with Microsoft's President of the Entertainment & Devices Division, Robbie Bach, as well as Don Mattrick, the new Peter Moore, about Peter Moore's departure, which was announced earlier today.

First, when asked how important one person is, and whether gamers should care about Moore's resignation, Bach responded that there is a group of gamers that track the industry and track its personalities, and that these gamers would care about the decision (that's you guys, if you're reading along at home). Bach suggested that, in the near term, Moore's departure will have "basically no effect. Halo 3 is still Halo 3, and Don's not changing that. Peter wasn't changing that." However, if you look out two to three years, "a leader does have an impact." For example, Peter was "uniquely good at understanding the importance of communication." Bach described him as a "consummate speaker, marketer, and evangelist" for their product who did a "great job with gamers, the press and analyst community, and retail partners."

Alright, so we all know who Peter Moore is, but what about Don Mattrick? Bach said Mattrick will obviously be the new "public face" of their business, though his core talents are different from Moore's. Where Moore was focused on the marketing and strategy side, Mattrick will be focused more on their core product. So, while there was some overlap between Peter and Robbie, Bach feels that he and Don will work in slightly different ways. Of course, Don has been working as a "strategic adviser" for the Entertainment & Devices division since February after leaving EA in 2005. So, was this a groomed succession or serendipity?

Continue reading Robbie Bach and Don Mattrick talk to Joystiq about Peter Moore's departure

[TTR Dr Payne]

Peter Moore's EA salary revealed
Wednesday 18-Jul-2007 11:55 AM
Ex-Xbox 360 man signs up for $1.5 million - minus applicable taxes, of course
Thanks to an SEC filing from Moore's new employer Electronic Arts, it's been revealed that Peter Moore's new salary will be $550,000 per year. His discretionary target bonus will be 75 percent of his annual base salary too!

It's more money than we'd know what to do with. And we bet he gets more free games than he can play...

On top of his whopping yearly salary and bonus EA also agreed to pay Moore a one-time bonus of $1,500,000 (minus applicable taxes ) in "recognition of the future compensation value he would be foregoing by leaving his position at Microsoft".

Moore will earn this one-time bonus at the completion of his second year with EA but is he walks out the door before the completion of two years, he has agreed to repay to EA the full net amount of the bonus.

[ericlewis91]

yes..microsoft will shut down nowwwwww

[IllBashU]

Meh, i wish i could get a 550,000 yearly :'(

[Syntax]

Heard about that earlier.. However didn't know his salary was so high..

That's a lot of money...

[snake63]

I believe Peter Moore wanted to jump ship because of the cursed rings of death. It can't be a coincidence that after a few weeks after extending the warranty he leaves. Sometime later this year it will be revealed that there is a major defect in the processor and Microsoft will have no choice in calling a recall.