GameStop Appoints New GM for its Digital Business

GameStop is on top of the world right now, but at some point down the line the digital revolution will have a major impact on the retailer's business and the entire industry. Some analysts believe this won't happen until 2017 but GameStop isn't standing still. The company recently outlined its digital aggregation plans, which could include a strategic acquisition, and today GameStop appointed a new Senior Vice President and GM of Digital Business. 

Shawn D. Freeman will be based out of the company’s corporate offices in Grapevine, Texas and will be responsible for overseeing and cultivating the company’s digital business strategy while working with the recently formed Digital Ventures group to maximize the company’s online retail and digital aggregation business. GameStop said the key to this strategy will be "employing a multi-channel approach that embraces GameStop’s more than 6,200 stores across the globe as well as the company’s commerce-enabled Web site GameStop.com."

“Adding an accomplished online business veteran and visionary such as Shawn to our team demonstrates our commitment to establishing a world-class e-commerce and digital business platform that fortifies our leadership in the multi-channel video game entertainment industry,” said Daniel DeMatteo, Chief Executive Officer, GameStop. “Shawn will help bring together and integrate key components to our digital strategy to not only participate in emerging trends in casual, online and mobile gaming, but shape, lead and create new market opportunities.”

Freeman has nearly 20 years of senior management experience, particularly in the online business category. He was most recently the president of Chicago-based Ticketsnow.com and senior vice president of resale for Ticketmaster North America where he was responsible for all of Ticketmaster’s resale operations in North America, including key resale partnerships with the NFL and NHL. In the past, he's also served as chief technology officer and general manager of the direct-to-consumer business for Handango.com, a smartphone content retailer, and as chief information officer for Hotels.com. He also founded Big Theory LLC/Focus 2, a boutique e-commerce consulting company that was acquired by Worldwide Xceed Group.