Xbox Live Arcade GM quits, joins PopCap

Soon to be former Xbox Live Arcade general manager, Greg Canessa joins casual game maker PopCap as newly minted vice president of video game platforms. Canessa's tenure at PopCap officially begins next week. No longer confined to Xbox 360, Canessa will help spread PopCap's products to a variety of platforms, including mobile phones, iPods, in-flight entertainment systems, slot machine adaptations — even scratch-off lottery tickets.

As GM of XBLA, Canessa formed a close relationship with PopCap. Microsoft's downloadable games service has been host to six of PopCap's games over the past 24 months, including recently released tank shooter Heavy Weapon. Microsoft has not yet revealed who will take Canessa's place as GM. Update: Bryan Trussel has been promoted to director of platform game services and will oversee Xbox Live Arcade in addition to other Microsoft Casual Games platforms, including MSN Games and Windows Live Messenger Games. Trussel was most recently the group manager for expanding platforms in the Microsoft Casual Games group, helping to develop and implement the original Xbox Live Arcade product.

[Via press release]