Sega Europe CEO JF Cecillon to quit

Sega Europe CEO JF Cecillonis quitting the firm at the end of this monthafter two years at the helm to “pursue a number of other interests in theentertainment and technology areas”, with his role being assumed by Segachairman Mr. Okawa.

Cecillon said: “I have enjoyed my time at Sega and worked with anexceptional team. I want to thank all the employees for their dedicationwhich ensured that we, as a team, met the ambitious targets that we setfor the company. I know that the next phase of Dreamcast’s life will beexciting and I wish everyone at Sega much success.”

The likeable Frenchman met all of his three first year key targets, withone million Dreamcasts sold, along with three million software titles and400,000 registered internet users of Sega’s DreamArena portal, but many inthe industry have suggested that his chances of furthering that successwere hamstrung by a lack of marketing funds, despite having a huge arrayof top quality titles to promote.

Meanwhile Sega is to handle Namco’s Japanese arcade distribution from April1 2001, which could pave the way for a number of Namco titles appearingexclusively on Dreamcast.

News page content input by Dominic Robinson, 2000.