In this role as senior vice president for communications & industry affairs for the Entertainment Software Association, Andrew Bowins leads a team responsible for positioning ESA, and the video game industry, as a driving influence in the world through partnerships, events, media outreach, digital, research, and member communications. The role includes management of the video game industry’s flagship annual event, E3, and responsibility for guiding the ESA Foundation.
Bowins has deep experience in issues management and worked with industry leading companies like Amazon, Dell, Nintendo, Nokia, Samsung, and MasterCard. By combining his in-house and agency experience, he became a respected counselor for his ability to build impactful teams that span the gamut of communications.
He's also (unsurprisingly) a big fan of streaming entertainment services, and would feed Mia Wallace quite the strange dinner spread.
Here's Andrew Bowins, in his own words:
My first job in PR was: Account executive, Fleishman Hillard Canada (Technology Practice)
I chose PR because: I was intrigued with the idea that stories, ideas and beliefs expressed through the media could shape public opinion.
If I weren’t in PR, I’d be: A psychologist.
The last great business book I read was: "What Happy People Know."
The best personal advice I’ve ever received was: “Always present scenarios and likely outcomes versus dying on the sword over a single idea that you have convinced yourself is great.”
The best advice I’ve given is: “Never waste a crisis.”
If I could solve one big challenge for communicators, it would be: To not let the profession be defined by the past and push to be recognized as the vanguards of brand and reputation.
The last vacation I took was: At Canyon Ranch to unplug from the world of digital and sit still and listen to the breeze.
The technology I can’t live without is: Hi-res music streaming and interactive entertainment.
The technology I could certainly live without is: Auto-correct on my iPhone.
My dream three dinner guests would be: Iggy Pop, Mia Wallace and Jack Nicholson.
And I’d serve them: Cheeseburgers, poutine and a “$5 milkshake.”
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