Rawlinson in as ELSPA boss

ELSPA has appointed Michael Rawlinson to the position of director general, as current incumbent Paul Jackson steps aside into an advisory role.

Rawlinson has been with ELSPA since 1999. He was appointed deputy director general in November 2001 and promoted to MD in 2006. Jackson joined as director general two years ago, moving over from a role as senior European VP at EA.

Rawlinson said: I want to build on the successes we’ve had, especially in the political field – not just in Westminster, but with political stakeholders.

We need the policy makers to understand that behind the big growth numbers is not always a rosy picture. The problems within retail actually contract the opportunity for our members to get their products to consumers. The credit crunch plays a big part in that.”

Rawlinson will now head up ELSPA’s quest to convince the Government to adopt the PEGI ratings system as the UK’s single statutory age classification.

Jackson told MCV that he was now free to work for individual publishers, but was not actively pursuing a role.