Reggie Fils-Aime Joins Gamestop’s Board Of Directors

Here is something we never thought we’d be reading today, let alone typing into a WordPress document, but it’s real: former president of Nintendo of America, Reggie Fils-Aime, has joined the board of directors at Gamestop. Yes, that Gamestop.

It may be the first smart decision Gamestop has made in decades. The whole operation is in a dire pickle, facing not only obsolescence but the ire of a gamer userbase that’s tired of being jerked around and shaken upside-down for quarters and dimes. Reggie has been simmering in the gamer culture for a long time and will recognize a bad decision when he sees it. Hopefully.

Reggie will join the board on April 20; the same announcement also revealed two additional new members to Gamestop’s board, Bill Simon (who has held high positions at Walmart, Cadbury Schweppes, PepsiCo, and Nabisco) and James Symancyk (who has had a hand in PetSmart, Academy Sports & Outdoors, and Sam’s Club). Those two guys will join the board immediately.

“We are pleased to welcome Reggie, Bill and J.K. to the Board,” said George Sherman, CEO of Gamestop, in a public statement. “They are each highly qualified and bring significant, relevant experience to our turnaround. We look forward to immediately benefiting from their expertise and perspectives as we…” We had to cut him off as his speech devolved into corporate-speak full of terms like “strategic initiatives” and “maximize value-creation.”

We fear the arrival of Reggie may be too little, too late, and it’s not like he’s taking Sherman’s job, so his power will be limited. But if he can’t plug the leaks in this boat, nothing can. This is your last hope, Gamestop….listen to the man.