The Sega of America executive offices have a new inhabitant this week. The company announced the appointment of Masano Maeda as its new chief operating officer. Maeda joins Sega's North American arm after spending the past 18 years with Sega of Japan. As COO, Maeda will oversee Sega of America's sales, marketing, and product development business in the US, Canada, and Latin America.

　　Teaming with Obsidian for Alpha Protocol is one example of Sega's Western outreach in recent years. Though this is Maeda's first post at Sega of America, the executive is no stranger to Western markets. Sega attributed its recent emphasis on Western game development (including the acquisitions of The Creative Assembly and Secret Level) in part to Maeda's leadership as an executive advisor and corporate director of the Japanese company's consumer business division.

　　It has been a busy year among Sega's upper ranks. In June, Sega of America president Simon Jeffery jumped ship for a position at Ngmoco. Jeffery's duties were then assumed by Sega of Europe president and COO Mike Hayes. At the same time, Naoya Tsurumi, formerly a CEO for Sega of America and Sega of Europe, was made the general manager of the consumer business division.