10 September 2020 – The General Assembly of the European Game Developers Federation (EGDF) formed of its members, national trade associations representing game developer studios in several European countries has gathered yesterday, 9th of September, to elect the board of directors for the next year and to discuss EGDF plans for the same period. During the GA, Hendrik Lesser was re-elected as president of EGDF.
Hendrik Lesser, the representative of the German developer association GAME in EGDF and a successful entrepreneur and game developer from Munich, Germany had been re-elected by EGDF members to continue his role as EDGF President. His production company remote control productions unites Europe’s biggest developer family with extensive experience and a wide range of contacts, providing an important interface between developers, publishers, distributors and investors.
“I’m honored for the trust to be re-elected as president of EGDF and I’m looking forward to continuing to implement its vision. Our main priorities are to strengthen the voice of EGDF during and after the ongoing pandemic and to continue to improve the European game dev support and regulatory framework based on the feedback we get from our members. Improving our presence in the European game developer community, as well as our visibility is another key aspect we are giving high importance to in the beginning of the new board term. We hope to continue to join forces with our members and any other organisations wanting to support the development of the European game dev industry to create an inclusive and empowering environment for everybody working in it. We will also continue our cooperation with ISFE to increasingly work together for the benefit of the industry’”, stated Hendrik Lesser, president of EGDF.
Other members of the board of directors elected during the General Assembly include Andreea Medvedovici-Per, the representative of the Romanian Game Developers Association RGDA, Guillaume de Fondaumieré, the representative of the French association SNJV and KooPee Hiltunen, the representative of the Finnish association Suomen pelinkehittäjät ry, all of them being re-elected to continue as members of the board. Rafał Kloczko, the representative of the Polish Association PGA, has been elected to the board for the first time.
ABOUT EGDF – Uniting the European game dev industry
The European Games Developer Federation e.f. (EGDF) unites national trade associations representing game developer studios based in 18 European countries: Austria (PGDA), Belgium (FLEGA), Czechia (GDACZ), Denmark (Producentforeningen), Finland (Suomen pelinkehittäjät), France (SNJV), Germany (GAME), Italy (IIDEA), Malta (MVGSA), Netherlands (DGA), Norway (Produsentforeningen), Poland (PGA), Romania (RGDA), Spain (DEV), Sweden (Spelplan-ASGD), Slovakia (SGDA), Turkey (TOGED) and the United Kingdom (TIGA). Altogether, through its members, EGDF represents more than 2 500 game developer studios, most of them SMEs, employing more than 35 000 people.
Games industry represents one of Europe’s most compelling economic success stories, relying on a strong IP framework, and is a rapidly growing segment of the creative industries. European digital single market area is the third-largest market for video games globally. In 2019, Europe’s video games market was worth €21bn, and the industry has registered a growth rate of 55% over the past 5 years in key European markets. All in all, there are around 5000 game developer studios and publishers in Europe, employing closer to 80 000 people.
For more information, please contact:
Jari-Pekka Kaleva, tel: +358 40 716 3640
COO, European Games Developer Federation (EGDF)
Senior Policy Analyst, Neogames Finland ry.
Email: jari-pekka.kaleva@egdf.eu
www.egdf.eu / www.neogames.fi
Twitter: @jpkaleva