The Entertainment Software Association announced its new president today, naming Mike Gallagher for the position. The former assistant secretary of the Department of Commerce will take over for outgoing ESA president Doug Lowenstein who announced in December he'd be leaving the organization after a 12 year tenure.

Gallagher confirmed during a conference call earlier today that he had no plans to reinstate the old E3 format and that his first duties as president of the ESA would be to "listen" and learn more about the videogame industry's ecosystem. He praised the work of the ESA and the ESRB, pointing to successful efforts by both organizations to protect videogames as speech protected by the First Amendment and educating parents on videogame content ratings.

The new ESA president also revealed that while he has much to learn about the entertainment software industry, he personally has gaming experience, having played titles like Halo and Mario Kart with his family.

Full press release from the ESA is after the jump. Michael McWhertor

Mike Gallagher Selected as New Entertainment Software Association President

Former Assistant Secretary of Commerce to Lead Video Game Association

May 17, 2007 - Washington, DC - Michael D. Gallagher will serve as the next president of the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), the trade group representing U.S. computer and video game publishers, the ESA announced today. Mr. Gallagher was a former Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications & Information, serving as the chief telecommunications and policy advisor to the Bush Administration. Gallagher will start the ESA position later this month.

"Mike's outstanding technology, policy, and government relations experience makes him a strong fit for the ESA, where issues like intellectual property, self-regulation, and industry social and economic contributions are at the forefront of the agenda," said Robbie Bach, chair of the ESA Board of Directors and president of Microsoft's Entertainment and Devices Division.

Mr. Gallagher is currently the Communications Practice chair at Perkins Coie, a leading international law firm offering a broad spectrum of legal services. Previously, he was Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy & Counselor to Secretary Donald L. Evans, secretary of Commerce. Mr. Gallagher is a member of both the Advisory Committee to the Secretary General of the United Nations for the Internet Governance Forum and the U.S. State Department Advisory Committee on Information and Communication Policy. Mr. Gallagher holds degrees in Economics and Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley and a Juris Doctor from the University of California, Los Angeles.

"Mike Gallagher is an experienced Washington hand - he understands the intersection of technology and policy and we look forward to working with him and the ESA to pursue our shared goals of keeping kids safe, empowering and educating parents, and protecting the First Amendment," said Jerry Berman, president of the Center for Democracy and Technology.

During Gallagher's four-year tenure at the Department of Commerce, he led successful efforts to pave the way for a number of new technologies and services, such as ultrawideband, broadband over powerlines, advanced wireless services, and millimeter wavelength networks. In addition, Mr. Gallagher developed and successfully advocated the US Government's policies on international Internet governance.

"It is a privilege to represent the dynamic entertainment software industry," said Mike Gallagher, newly-named president of the ESA. "With over two-thirds of American heads of households playing video games, and the tremendous opportunities available to the industry on every device — from consoles and PCs to handhelds and broadband enabled cell phones — the business is poised for tremendous growth. I look forward to working with federal and state leaders to foster an environment where the industry and its consumers can thrive."

The ESA is the U.S. association dedicated to serving the business and public affairs needs of the companies publishing interactive games for video game consoles, handheld devices, personal computers, and the Internet. ESA members collectively account for more than 90 percent of the $7.4 billion in entertainment software sales in the U.S. in 2006, and billions more in export sales of entertainment software. For more information about the ESA, please visit www.theESA.com.

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