Sega of America announced that Ian Curran has been appointed Chief Operating Officer and President effective today, August 1st.

In this new role, he will be responsible for utilizing the resources available to the company to maximize the profitability of the publishing and Sonic businesses in both  the Americas and the EMEA region (Europa, Middle East, and Africa). He will also serve on the board of Atlus USA and respond directly to Sega West CEO Tatsuyuki Miyazaki.

Corran accompanied the press release with a statement:

"My thanks and gratitude to Mr. Miyazaki and the entire company leadership for this opportunity to lead our operations and executions in the Americas and EMEA. I appreciate all of the incredible efforts Mr. Hiraoka has made to lay the groundwork for our operations in the Americas. Coming off the success of Persona 5, Sonic Forces, Sonic Mania Plus, and the Yakuza series, and with so much more on the horizon, including Valkyria Chronicles 4, it is an incredible time to join the team. As part of the SEGA family, we are inheritors of an expansive body of work and opportunity which I plan to help reach its full potential."

Miyazaki-san also commented:

"To those who work in our offices, it is no secret that we have seen a surge of new staff as we explore new opportunities and titles for our audiences. Since relocating our offices from San Francisco to Irvine and Burbank, we have established an even stronger business with still more ample room for growth. As we grow, it becomes necessary for our business to expand its own leadership, incorporating new skills and ideas. It is with great excitement we welcome Ian to the SEGA family in this new COO role and as President of SEGA of America, roles necessary for our burgeoning success in the Americas. In support of Ian's vision, senior management and I will work with him to ensure he has the support he needs to continue growing our business."

Atlys USA CEO and President Naoto Hiraoka also weighed in:

"We've been looking for someone to fill this role for some time, so we couldn't be more pleased to have Ian join our operations as COO and President of SEGA of America. His many years of experience in video game publishing, leading, developing and transforming organizations, is a perfect fit for our long-term aspirations and will be invaluable as we look to expand our business. I look forward to working alongside Ian in our common goal to take our work in the Americas and EMEA to new heights as I prepare to focus on my new role."

In the past, Curran worked at THQ and Acclaim, with a recent stint at gaming accessories manufacturer Gioteck.

Sega has certainly been on the rise recently, especially thanks to numerous localizations of games that previously wouldn't have seen a western release. It'll be interesting to see if Curran will keep the helm steady on this route, and I certainly hope so.