GAMA Executive Director John Stacy will be leaving that role in November at the end of his current contract to take a new position with a non-profit in the medical field, the organization announced. GAMA is putting an un-named interim executive director in place to manage the organization during a search for a permanent replacement.
Stacy joined the organization in late 2018 (see “GAMA Appoints New Executive Director“) during a time of turmoil after the unpopular decision not to renew the contract of previous Executive Director John Ward, the censure of the organization’s president after an incident that led to his expulsion from Gen Con, and the departure of key board members in protest of the president’s continuation in his role (see “GAMA Asks for Unity“).
Despite a rocky beginning, Stacy oversaw substantial growth in the organization’s membership and its key trade show, overcoming the loss of momentum from the global pandemic that led to nationwide shutdowns the week of the 2020 GAMA Expo. Both membership and GAMA Expo attendance are around double their levels when Stacy joined the organization (see “GAMA Expo Sets Attendance Record“). Stacy also managed post-pandemic growth of the organization’s consumer show, but was unable to return Origins Game Fair to its pre-pandemic attendance (see “Origins 2025 Attendance“).
“Leading GAMA has been one of the most rewarding chapters of my career,” Stacy said in a statement accompanying the announcement. “I’m proud of the team we’ve built and the foundation we’ve laid. GAMA is well-positioned for its next chapter, and I have full confidence in the board’s transition plan and the search for a new leader.”
Source: ICv2
