Executive Shuffle: Hudson, Warner Bros.

Digital distribution over Nintendo's and Microsoft's respective online services has been a boon for Hudson Soft. The publisher has been quick to import gems from its days gone by to Nintendo's Virtual Console, and the publisher has found success over Xbox Live Arcade, in particular with Bomberman Live, which was deemed the Best Overall Arcade Game by XBLA users in 2007. Now, the man who has overseen this recent renaissance, as well as participated in the developer's '90s heyday, is stepping down after 20 years.

Hudson Entertainment announced today that John Greiner, president of the company's North American publishing operation, will be leaving the company effective May 15. Greiner began his career with Hudson in Japan in 1988, and was appointed president and CEO of Hudson Soft in 2003. According to Hudson, Greiner plans to "spend time with his family and pursue personal interests," and the US division's senior executive and chairman Seiichi Ishigaki will assume his responsibilities.

Over at Warner Bros. Interactive, Martin Tremblay has been named the group's new president. Tremblay, who is expected to begin as Warner Bros.' new president in June, had previously headed up Vivendi Games as president of worldwide studios from 2006. Prior to Vivendi, the exec served as Ubisoft Montreal's chief operating officer, where he oversaw the studio's dramatic upscale from 350 to 1,500 employees. Tremblay's transition from Ubisoft to Vivendi in 2006 was marred by significant legal wrangling as the publishers sparred over non-compete clauses in the executive's contract.