Frogster Replaces Ousted Execs With New VPs, Managing Directors

After dismissing several executives last month, Berlin-based MMORPG publisher Frogster Interactive (Runes of Magic) has promoted and appointed three members of its staff to managing director and vice president roles. Dominic Scheve and Daniel Ullrich have both held executive positions at Frogster for some time now. Scheve, who was previously vice president of operations and finance, now oversees human resources, legal affairs, finance, and the administration department. Ullrich joined the publisher in August 2008, working as product management director for its Frogster Online Gaming subsidiary. He is now managing director for Frogster Online Gaming and operations VP for the parent company, handling product management, marketing, product PR, quality assurance, game improvement, and more. The third appointment, Seth Iorio, comes from Frogster's new major shareholder GameForge, also a German publisher specializing in free-to-play, browser-based games. Iorio will manage technical and customer-focused efforts. Gameforge bought a 60 percent stake in Frogster at €25 ($32) two months ago, then boosted its bid to €27.50 ($37) shortly afterward to win over remaining shareholders. The deal was followed by the dismissal of three executives -- CFO Ralf Kloppel, CAO Bjorn Koschin, and Frogster America CEO Lars Koschin -- with no reason given to the public. Frogster Interactive has since appointed an interim chief executive for its U.S. subsidiary, Dirk Meyer zu Drewer, who was CFO there for nearly two years. He will oversee Frogster America while the publisher searches for a permanent replacement.