PopCap appoints Microsoft and Apple vet as VP of engineering

Casual games firm PopCap has announced the appointment of Martin Gannholm to the newly-created role of VP of Engineering.

He joins PopCap after four years as a senior member of Microsoft’s business software division, most recently as architect and group program manager of Microsoft Office Live. Prior to that he spent time on two web ventures and his CV also boasts a stint on Apple’s localisation team.

“We’re delighted to have Martin joining our management team and overseeing our engineering efforts, which are far-flung and ambitious,” said PopCap CEO David Roberts, who Gannholm will report to directly.

“Martin will oversee a single organization comprising multiple teams, responsible for a quickly expanding portfolio of technology. From providing game integration into new environments and platforms to creating solutions for new Web- and Intranet-based initiatives, Martin’s group will steer PopCap’s technological future in many key respects.”

At PopCap Gannholm will oversee the firm’s future technical endeavours and innovations.

“PopCap’s incredible attention to detail and absolute dedication to the highest production values possible was a major point of appeal for me,” Gannholm said.

“PopCap offers the perfect blend of start-up mentality and established business success – freedom to be creative and the resources to make those creative ideas real. In this Internet-connected, service-enabled world, there’s a huge opportunity to bring PopCap’s games to more people in more ways than ever, and I’m looking forward to helping drive that side of the company.”