Andrew Walker - Head of Business Development at Gameye
Professional Overview:
Andrew Walker is a seasoned executive in the gaming industry with over 25 years of international experience. Currently, he is the Head of Business Development at Gameye, a position he has held since 2019. Andrew's career spans significant roles across several major companies in the gaming industry, including Gameforge, THQ, and Microsoft.
Career Highlights:
Gameye (2019 - Present):
- Role: Head of Business Development
- Responsibilities: Leading the business development team, formulating and executing strategies to grow the company, expanding partnerships, and overseeing all aspects of the department.
- Key Achievements: Instrumental in driving the company's revolutionary infrastructure technology, focusing on building robust relationships with game studios and publishers.
GameFounders:
- Role: Partner
- Responsibilities: Recruiting studios for the Seed Fund Accelerator program, managing seed investments, and presenting studios to investors through demo days across major cities.
- Expertise: Business advisory in user acquisition, business development, game production; executed China-focused strategies and selected publishing partners.
Gameforge (2016 - 2019):
- Role: Director of Business Development
- Responsibilities: Leading the team managing pitch and game evaluations, contracting new partnerships, collaborating with the CEO and executive board on business opportunities, focusing on expanding the portfolio with both Western and Asian developers.
THQ:
- Roles: Head of Business Development for EMEA, Global Head of Business Development
- Responsibilities: Signing successful titles such as Worms, Juiced, De Blob, overseeing development and publishing deals, managing global business development from Los Angeles.
Microsoft:
- Roles: Member of DirectX Developer Relations Team, Xbox Launch Team
- Contributions: Started the Direct3D Advisory Board, organized the first Windows Graphics Summit.
Educational Background:
- Bachelor's Degree in Computing Science from The University of Glasgow.
Professional Highlights and Achievements:
- International Moves: Extensive experience in international business development with significant roles in Glasgow, Redmond, Woking, Los Angeles, Estonia, Malaysia, and Germany.
- Strategic Expertise: Developed business cases with executive stakeholders, executed strategic regional expansions, and facilitated studio participation in accelerator programs.
- Global Network: Strong connections with game studios, publishers, and infrastructure partners worldwide.
Public Engagement:
- Speaking Engagements: Featured at various conferences such as GDC 2024 and Pocket Gamer Connects London.
- Publications: Contributor to the Gameye Blog, detailing personal industry experiences and insights.
Key Relationships:
- Reporting To: Sebastiaan Heijne, Founder & CEO of Gameye.
- Key Colleagues: Denise Helderop (CFO & Co-Founder), Elmer Bulthuis (CTO), Vera Lakmaker (Head of Remote Work).
Personal Insights:
- Passionate about gaming, with a particular interest in games such as Killing Floor 2, Starcraft, and Football Manager.
- Enjoys cycling in Karlsruhe and values family, frequently mentioning his wife Mary-Margaret and their well-traveled dog, Ziggy.
Contact Information:
- Email: [andrew@gameye.com](mailto:andrew@gameye.com)
- LinkedIn: [Andrew Walker - Gameye](https://www.linkedin.com/in/awalker)
This report highlights Andrew Walker's extensive experience and strategic role in the gaming industry, presenting a comprehensive profile for business development insights and potential partnership opportunities.