The association for the U.S. video game industry continues its tradition of attracting and advancing top talent with the addition of Jennifer Gibbons to the state government affairs practice, Carlos Linares to the intellectual property protection practice, and a new role for Michael Lewis within the law and policy team.
Washington, DC., August 19, 2024 – The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has welcomed Jennifer Gibbons and Carlos Linares as vice president of state government affairs and chief counsel of intellectual property protection & security (IPPS), respectively. ESA also announced that Michael Lewis, formerly vice president of IPPS, has taken on a new role as the vice president and associate general counsel of law & policy. ESA has a 30-year history of serving as the voice and advocate for the U.S. video game industry and prioritizes attracting and retaining talent to strengthen ESA’s efforts to expand and protect the marketplace for the video game industry in the U.S.
“The ESA’s ability to advocate for one of the largest and most beloved forms of entertainment in the world depends on our ability to attract and retain team members who understand our unique position and are energized to champion video games across the country,” said ESA President and CEO Stanley Pierre-Louis. “Jennifer, Carlos and Michael are enthusiastic leaders in addition to being subject-matter experts, and I am confident our internal team and our member companies will benefit from their talents and expertise.”
Jennifer Gibbons joined ESA as the vice president of state government affairs in April 2024. Formerly, Gibbons served as the senior vice president of government affairs at The Toy Association, where she led federal and state efforts on safety, intellectual property and sustainability issues. In addition, she brings over a decade of experience in politics and public policy working in the California State Assembly. Gibbons will be spearheading ESA’s state legislative and regulatory advocacy.
Carlos Linares joined ESA as chief counsel of IPPS in July 2024. Linares previously spent more than 20 years at the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), most recently serving as senior vice president of content protection & enforcement. He has significant experience protecting the legal and business interests of the U.S. recording industry, specifically with online piracy issues and content protection initiatives. Linares has also served on the boards of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Global Innovation Policy Center and the International Anti-Piracy Coalition (IACC).
Michael Lewis has taken on a new role as vice president and associate general counsel of law & policy and will play a vital role in advancing ESA’s U.S. legal, regulatory and policy strategies. Lewis has been an integral member of ESA’s team since 2018, most recently serving as vice president of IPPS. He will draw on his substantial background in intellectual property and game security issues, deep familiarity with industry issues more broadly, and more than a decade of experience working for the U.S. government to guide the work of the domestic legal and policy team at ESA.
As ESA marks its 30th anniversary in 2024, these senior staff hires will help to advance the advocacy and intellectual property protection efforts for an industry that has grown to more than $57.2 billion in U.S. sales alone and supports more than 350,000 jobs across the United States.
For more information on the ESA’s policy priorities and how the video game industry is driving economic opportunity, visit https://www.theesa.com/.
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Media Contact:
Mackenzie Bell
Mbell@theesa.com
202-903-2346
About the ESA
Founded in 1994, the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has served as the voice and advocate for the U.S. video game industry for more than 30 years. Its members are the innovators, creators, publishers and business leaders that are reimagining entertainment and transforming how we interact, learn, connect and play. The ESA works to expand and protect the dynamic marketplace for video games through innovative and engaging initiatives that showcase the positive impact of video games on people, culture and the economy to secure a vibrant future for the industry for decades to come. For more information, visit the ESA’s website or follow the ESA on X @theESA or Instagram @theesaofficial.
