Jennifer MacLean
{{short description|American game developer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Jennifer MacLean
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| occupation = Former CEO at 38 Studios and former executive director at IGDA
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Jennifer MacLean is known for being the chief executive officer at 38 Studios, an independent game developer, from 2009 to 2012{{cite press release |title=38 Studios Appoints Jennifer MacLean as CEO |publisher=38 Studios |date=21 August 2009 |url=http://38studios.com/news/38-studios-appoints-jennifer-maclean-ceo |access-date=18 May 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120528181026/http://38studios.com/news/38-studios-appoints-jennifer-maclean-ceo |archive-date=28 May 2012 }} and the executive director of the IGDA from September 2017 to April 2019."[https://www.igda.org/news/386344/IGDA-Appoints-Jen-MacLean-Permanent-Executive-Director-Press-Release.htm IGDA Appoints Jen MacLean Permanent Executive Director] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181229075602/https://www.igda.org/news/386344/IGDA-Appoints-Jen-MacLean-Permanent-Executive-Director-Press-Release.htm |date=29 December 2018 }}." International Game Developers Association. Retrieved 28 December 2018."[https://www.igda.org/news/447718/Press-Release-Jen-MacLean-Steps-Down-as-IGDA-Executive-Director.htm Jen MacLean Steps Down as IGDA Executive Director] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190718232010/https://www.igda.org/news/447718/Press-Release-Jen-MacLean-Steps-Down-as-IGDA-Executive-Director.htm |date=18 July 2019 }}." International Game Developers Association. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
Biography
= Early career =
After beginning her career working with Brian Reynolds and Sid Meier at Microprose Software{{cite web|url=http://www.tentonhammer.com/node/29950|title=38 Studios: An Interview with Jennifer MacLean, VP of Business Development|last=Bye|first=Cody|date=6 April 2008|publisher=Master Games International|accessdate=11 September 2008}} in 1992, she joined AOL in 1996, where she became Programming Director for the Games Channel. She went on to become vice president and general manager of games at Comcast Corporation,{{cite web|url=http://www.cable360.net/cablefaxmag/departments/advsvcs/18788.html|title=Q&A With Jennifer MacLean: Comcast's Guru of Fun and Games|last=Brady|first=Shirley |date=12 June 2006|publisher=Access Intelligence LLC|accessdate=11 September 2008}} and the chair of the board of directors for the International Game Developers Association.{{cite web|url=http://www.igda.org/board/#maclean|title=Board of Directors|publisher=International Game Developers Association|accessdate=11 September 2008 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080503104322/http://www.igda.org/board/#maclean |archivedate = 3 May 2008}} In March 2008 she joined 38 Studios as Senior Vice President of business development, and moved into the position of CEO in the same company in August 2009.
= Late career =
MacLean left the 38 Studios upon its bankruptcy in 2012; dating her departure to March 2012, when she took a leave of absence.{{cite web | last = Nesi | first = Ted | date = 23 May 2012 | url = http://blogs.wpri.com/2012/05/23/38-studios-loses-ceo-and-high-profile-vp-linkedin-suggests/ | title = 38 Studios loses CEO and high-profile VP, LinkedIn suggests | publisher = WPRI-TV | access-date = 16 September 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120527122031/http://blogs.wpri.com/2012/05/23/38-studios-loses-ceo-and-high-profile-vp-linkedin-suggests/ | archive-date = 27 May 2012 | url-status = dead }} As an executive director at the IGDA, MacLean joined Amazon and became the director of their worldwide business development. She has stated that her main goal is to work with small to medium-sized game developers and that her new position will allow her to help with the development of the different stages within Amazon Web Services, Alexa, Twitch Prime, and Amazon.com{{Cite web|url=https://venturebeat.com/2019/04/16/ex-igda-chief-jen-maclean-joins-amazon-game-tech-to-run-business-development/|title=Ex-IGDA chief Jen MacLean joins Amazon Game Tech to run business development|date=16 April 2019|website=VentureBeat|language=en-US|access-date=6 November 2019}}
At IGDA, MacLean was responsible for expanding new chapters in Pakistan, Istanbul, Kenya, and Fortaleza. Special interest groups for Latinx and Muslim game developers were also formed under MacLean's leadership.{{Cite web|last=Gaming|first=ISKMogul|date=2019-04-08|title=IGDA Executive Director Jen MacLean Steps Down|url=https://www.iskmogul.com/igda-executive-director-jen-maclean-steps-down/|access-date=2021-12-02|website=ISK Mogul Adventures|language=en-us}}
MacLean announced in 2019 that she would be stepping down from her position as Executive Director of the IGDA.
She is a frequent speaker at interactive entertainment industry events, and has earned a BA in International Relations from the Johns Hopkins University and an MBA with a concentration in International Business from the Columbia Business School.
Recognition
MacLean was named one of the "Game Industry's 100 Most Influential Women" by Next Generation{{cite web|url=http://www.edge-online.com/features/game-industrys-100-most-influential-women?page=7|title=Game Industry's 100 Most Influential Women|last=Cherbak|first=Fiona|publisher=Edge Magazine|date=11 September 2006|accessdate=18 May 2012}} and one of the top 20 Women in Games by Gamasutra.{{cite web|url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/women-in-games-the-gamasutra-20|title=Women in Games: The Gamasutra 20|last=Ruberg|first=Bonnie|publisher=Gamasutra|date=21 May 2008|access-date=18 May 2012}}
References
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Category:Video game businesspeople
Category:Columbia Business School alumni