Long or Short Capital

Corporate Speak

Shaking up the highest ranks of the video game industry, Electronic Arts, the world’s largest publisher of video games, said yesterday that it had hired Peter Moore, head of interactive entertainment at Microsoft, to run its large but sluggish sports division.

Microsoft said that Don Mattrick, a longtime game executive who had served as an adviser to the company since February, would take over game operations at Microsoft. Mr. Mattrick had been considered a leading candidate to become chief executive of Electronic Arts before leaving the company last year.

Translation

Electronic Arts said yesterday that it appointed Peter Moore to run its large but sluggish sports division. Mr. Moore has extensive experience running large, sluggish organizations. He helped launch the Xbox and Xbox360 products for Microsoft, products which successfully reached millions of people while losing only billions of dollars.

Microsoft said that Don Mattrick would take over game operations at Microsoft. Mr. Mattrick had left Electronic Arts after losing a power struggle and, given his experience at the large, sluggish EA publishing division, can quickly fill the leadership void created by Mr. Moore’s departure.