Promax/BDA Chief on Leave of Absence

LOS ANGELES, February 2: Promax/BDA has named marketing
consultant Lee Hunt as its interim managing director, with the organization’s
president and CEO, Jim Chabin, on an indefinite leave of absence.

The branding and marketing trade group declined to release
any details on the reason for Chabin’s leave of absence. It is not clear when,
or if, he will return. His contract, however, runs to 2010 after signing a
five-year renewal with the group in November 2005. He rejoined Promax in 2001
after helming the organization from 1991 to 1999.

Promax/BDA Chairman Michael Benson, ABC Entertainment’s
executive VP of marketing, said in a statement: “Change is a fairly standard
occurrence in every major association's evolution.”

Hunt assumes all administrative duties and oversight of both
Promax and BDA heading into this year's MI6 video game marketers conference,
tentatively slated for May in San Francisco, and the Promax/BDA North American
Conference, being held June 12 through 14 in New York City.