Director leaves brother's games company to join rival

ANDREW McLennan, commercial director at Glasgow computer games developer Steel Monkeys, has deserted his brother, managing director Derek McLennan, to join rival firm DC Studios.

Andrew McLennan will take on the role of business development director at Glasgow-based DC. The move sees him reunited with DC chief executive Mark Greenshields, who left Steel Monkeys in 1999 after a disagreement over business strategy.

McLennan stressed he left Steel Monkeys for professional reasons, and added: "It was time to seek a new challenge and go back to what I do best - growing a business. I’m delighted to join such a vibrant and fast-expanding company, and I am really looking forward to the challenges the role will bring. Mark has built a successful and highly professional team and it will be a pleasure to work with them."

McLennan will work in DC’s Canadian office in Montreal and will be tasked with expanding the firm’s personal computer and console games business.

Greenshields said: "I am confident that with the addition of Andrew, DC Studios’ future is looking ever brighter. I look forward immensely to working with him again."

Steel Monkeys was believed to be profitable before its partner, games company Rage, went into receivership. The Scottish developer carried out extensive work for Rage and it is now uncertain whether the firm remains in the black.

Steel Monkeys employs 56 people at its offices in Glasgow and Minsk in Russia, and last month said it was on course to post a turnover of 2m for this financial year - up from 1.4m in the previous 12 months.

DC Studios has clients such as Konami, Ubisoft, Disney, ABC, Breakthrough Films, and In-Fusio. It has shipped more than 30 titles, including the bestselling Bratz games and Tour de France Centenary Edition.

This year DC acquired Dream Mechanics in Montreal, a provider of multi-player gaming technology that has produced online games for film and TV studios.