David Gardner becomes BAFTA’s first games VP

Games veteran David Gardner has been named as BAFTA’s first vice president of games. He joins current VP of film Barbara Broccoli and VP of television Greg Dyke and will both co-chair the BAFTA council and work as an ambassador, working to advance BAFTA’s global games strategy.

"BAFTA is a fabulous organisation that helps advance the art of gaming, film and television. It is unique in that it brings so many storytelling mediums together, and has established itself as a globally recognised charity for peer review, advancement and education,” Gardner said.

I view my role as helping to expand the game industry’s participation in this tradition and look forward to the breakthroughs that will follow from sharing our craft."

Gardner joined EA when he was just 17, back when it was just a startup. He then helped establish the publisher’s London office, heading up European sales and marketing before eventually landing the role of MD. After that he served both as EVP of international publishing and COO and EVP of EA Worldwide Studios.

He later enjoyed a stint at Atari and currently works at London Venture Partners.

BAFTA said of its global games strategy: With the aim of engaging industry professionals, influential Games craftsmen and craftswomen across the globe, the Global Games Strategy will see increased activity in the US, including a presence at GDC and E3, an enhanced events programme focussed on cross-sector debate and provide more content to Global Games members across different platforms such as Twitch.

The overall objective is to establish the world’s most influential group of Games craftspeople to promote the sector as a creative medium and to support the next generation of creative practitioners.”