Activision Blizzard Inc. announced that it will strengthen its management team by appointing Dan Rosensweig, former Yahoo chief operating officer, as the company’s new CEO of its multibillion-dollar Guitar Hero business.

 

Rosensweig stopped working for Yahoo in 2006 after working five years with the company leading the product development and marketing strategy. After leaving Yahoo, he joined Quadrangle Group representing the Silicon Valley-based firm in New York. Before joining Yahoo Inc, Rosensweig was the president of CNet Networks and left that company after a merger with ZDNet. 

 

Now, having joined RedOctane, Mr. Rosensweig will have to figure out ways of increasing sales amid tough times. Most market analysts believe sales in the music games industry will begin to slow down. RedOctane is the business unit which develops the blockbuster Guitar Hero franchise and which will soon release DJ Hero

 

"With a platform and content that universally engages a wide range of audiences, Guitar Hero has incredible growth potential," Mr. Rosensweig said, according to The Los Angeles Times. 

 

"I look forward to continuing to develop Guitar Hero into an even more successful enterprise."

 

Mr. Rosensweig’s experience will most likely prove useful in better managing the global operations, game development, hardware manufacturing, supply chain, logistics and marketing of the Guitar Hero. 

 

The news that Mr. Rosensweig was named the new CEO send the company’s shares 46 cents to $10.45.

 

In other news on the subject, Activision launched a new teaser Web site for the upcoming DJ Hero game. The Web site allows users to sign up for on going updates of DJ Hero.