The IGDA Foundation appoints Microsoft veteran Shannon Loftis as new chair of the board
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The IGDA Foundation has appointed Microsoft veteran Shannon Loftis as the new chair of its board of directors.
Loftis has stepped into the role while fellow Microsoft veteran Ed Fries has stepped down. Fries spent two years as chair and will remain on the board.
Notably, Loftis’ appointment is as chair of the IGDA Foundation, a global charity which serves underrepresented developers.
While the charity is directly associated with the IGDA and both organisations work collaboratively to support developers, the position of IGDA’s current chair remains with Zak Whaley.
Decades of experience
Loftis has brought nearly three decades of experience from Microsoft to her new position, including her final role at the company as VP of Xbox Games Studios.
She has been involved in building technology that supports interactive storytelling, grew the production of racing games in the early 2000s, and was involved in creating a number of Kinect titles.
“I’m thrilled and honoured to lead this board and to work closely with the foundation and with the IGDA,” said Loftis.
“The IGDA Foundation is one of the most inclusive, intersectional, globally relevant and effective organisations in game development and I believe our mission is more crucial today than ever before.”
She also posted on LinkedIn: “Massive thanks to Ed Fries and the IGDA Foundation board for this vote of confidence. Now, more than ever, empowering game developers to tell stories of infinite variety is crucial.
“I could not be more thrilled to work with Alyssa Padia Walles, the Foundation team, the board and the International Game Developers Association (IGDA) to reach more people across the globe to keep games vital.”
The IGDA Foundation posted on LinkedIn: “The IGDA Foundation is excited to welcome Shannon Loftis as the new chair of our board of directors! Loftis is a game developer, industry leader, board member, mentor and consultant.”
