Paramount Digital Entertainment, a division of Paramount Pictures, a unit of Viacom Inc., today announced the hiring of John Kavanagh as Senior Vice President, Videogames reporting directly to PDE’s President Thomas Lesinski.   In Kavanagh’s new position, he will oversee all aspects of Paramount Digital Entertainment’s videogame group which includes the development and licensing of videogames based off of the studio’s properties. 

Kavanagh joins Paramount Digital Entertainment from Kuju America where he established the US division of one of Europe’s largest independent videogame developers and prior to that, he served as Vice President of Product Development and Publisher of Eidos Interactive.  His impressive credits include signing some of their most successful videogame franchises including Hitman, Deus Ex, Timesplitters, Formula One, Gangsters and Thief.  His success at Eidos segued into a stint running the US studios Crystal Dynamics and Ion Storm.  Kavanagh also founded Bright Things PLC which was listed on the London Stock Exchange in 2005 and won UK Toy of the Year for Bubble, an interactive DVD-based early learning console. Prior to his executive roles, Kavanagh began his career in videogames as a programmer for Atari.  Having worked extensively in the US and European sectors, Kavanagh has uniquely distinguished himself as one of a handful of videogame executives with global, cross-regional experience.  

 “We are very excited to have someone as experienced as John come aboard to lead our videogame group,” states Thomas Lesinski.  “John brings a diverse array of global gaming experience that will help accelerate our efforts in the development and licensing of videogames.”