GSN Hires Jeff Karp as Executive Vice President, Mobile & Social Games

WALTHAM, MA--(Marketwire - Sep 20, 2012) - GSN announced today that Jeff Karp will join the company as Executive Vice President, Mobile & Social Games, reporting to Peter Blacklow, who heads GSN Digital. In this newly created position, Karp will oversee GSN Digital's virtual currency business across its mobile, social and online gaming platforms. 

Karp comes to GSN Digital from Zynga, where he was Executive Vice President, Chief Revenue & Marketing Officer. Prior to Zynga, Karp was Executive Vice President, Play Label, for Electronic Arts, where he had global responsibility for Play Label's highly successful franchises, including The Sims, SimCity and Harry Potter. Karp's previous executive positions with Electronic Arts include Chief Revenue Officer, Games Label and Senior Vice President, General Manager of the Americas.

"Jeff has an impressive track record in building some of the most popular businesses at both Zynga and EA," said Peter Blacklow. "We are thrilled to attract someone of Jeff's caliber to GSN as we expand our virtual currency offering and enhance our player experience across platforms."

"Jeff will be leading businesses which are crucial to continuing GSN's growth," said David Goldhill, President & CEO of GSN. "With his demonstrated expertise and strategic vision, Jeff is the right executive to lead us in achieving our ambitious goals."

Karp added, "I am very excited to join the GSN team, which has already built leading cross-platform virtual currency game businesses, including the GSN Casino mobile app, the Games by GSN Facebook app and the virtual casino on GSN.com. I am eager to help GSN take these businesses to new levels of success." 

He will start with GSN on September 24, 2012 and will be based in the company's San Francisco office.

About GSN
GSN is a multimedia entertainment company that offers original and classic game programming and competitive entertainment via its 75-million subscriber television network and online game sites. GSN's cross-platform content gives game lovers the opportunity to win cash and prizes, whether through GSN's popular TV game shows or through GSN Digital's free casual games, mobile and social games, and cash competitions. GSN is distributed throughout the U.S., Caribbean and Canada by all major cable operators, satellite providers and telcos. GSN and its subsidiary, WorldWinner.com, Inc., are owned by DIRECTV and Sony Pictures Entertainment. For further information, visit GSN at www.gsn.com.