SCEA picks new info handler

Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) today named a new head of corporate communications, Dave Karraker. He replaces Molly Smith, longtime gatekeeper at SCEA, who left the company in late May.

Karraker will report to SCEA senior vice president of marketing Peter Dille, himself a recent hire at Sony. His appointment is effective immediately.

Karraker will oversee all of SCEA's public relations efforts in North America. His group will develop and promote the US launch strategy for the PlayStation 3, as well as provide ongoing support for the PlayStation, the PS2, the PlayStation Portable (PSP), and all first-party software.

Karraker's recent job history includes a stint at Allied Domecq Spirits and Wine, where he was North American vice president of corporate communications. There he worked on Allied Domecq brands including Stolichnaya, Maker's Mark, Kahlua, Beefeater, and Courvoisier. Before that role, Karraker was director of marketing communications for Kmart Corporation.

Karraker, however, is no stranger to the game industry. He has worked at PR firms Access Communications and Rogers & Cowan on a number of game accounts, including Sega of America, Microsoft, the 3DO Company, Virgin Interactive, and Crystal Dynamics.

In a statement, Dille said he would rely on Karraker's "proven track record for managing responsive, two-way communications between all stakeholders and audiences for the companies he has represented."