HP Inc. and Intel Corp. signed on as sponsors of Blizzard Entertainment Inc.’s Overwatch League, a professional video gaming competition with esports franchises in Boston, London, Los Angeles, Miami-Orlando, New York, San Francisco, Seoul and Shanghai.
Players will use gaming hardware from both tech giants—OMEN by HP gaming PCs and displays powered by Intel Core i7 processors. Intel will also sponsor upcoming Overwatch competitions.
“Multiyear collaborations such as this illustrate the momentum behind the Overwatch League as well as a long-term commitment by us and our partners in what we see as the future of esports,” Pete Vlastelica, president and chief executive of Blizzard Entertainment’s Major League Gaming division, said in a statement.
Blizzard is based in Irvine; its parent company, Activision Blizzard Inc., is in Santa Monica. “Overwatch” is a first-person, multiplayer futuristic shooter game with 35 million subscribers that’s grown into a $1 billion business for Activision Blizzard since its launch about a year ago.
The first season of the Overwatch League begins on Jan. 10 and runs through May. Playoffs and finals are scheduled for July. Preseason starts on Dec. 6 with a series of exhibition matches featuring the inaugural 12 teams. Games will take place at Blizzard Arena Los Angeles, a live-event venue in Burbank.
Executive Changes
Tim Chaney, former No. 1 marketing guy at Kia Motors America Inc. in Irvine, joined Cypress-based Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. as vice president of marketing, taking over for Amy Coleman, who retired after six years as senior director of marketing.
Chaney spent 15 years at Nissan Motor Corp. before joining Kia in 2001 as brand manager. He was promoted to director of marketing communications in 2005 and executive director in 2012. In 2014 he took over as vice president of marketing communications, a role he held until his departure in August 2016. Kia hired former Maserati CMO Saad Chehab in May as his replacement.
Chaney will be responsible for Toyo’s U.S. marketing efforts, including go-to market strategy, brand management and brand development. He will also oversee advertising, content development, sponsorships, events, public relations and dealer support.
Chaney in a statement said Toyo Tires is a “progressive brand that has great opportunity and potential to expand its presence and share in a competitive market.”
Kia, meanwhile, launched social media influencer program “Small Can Do Big” with well-known YouTube artists Kurt Hugo Schneider, Alyson Stoner and Sam Tsui to promote compact sedan Rio.
Ingram’s AIM
Ingram Micro Inc.’s in-house advertising shop, Agency Ingram Micro, last month hosted an Ingram Micro Experience 2018 event in Anaheim. The agency doled out its 2018 Experience Vendor Awards to nearly 30 vendors in several technology categories, including cloud, consumer technology and global markets, as well as in “key performance indicators, including collaboration, marketing and sales.”
The event also spotlighted successful growth strategies and emerging trends, business opportunities and vendor best practices.
“Success in the digital economy is based on having the right connections, establishing strong relationships and building trust with the millions of businesses investing in technology so we can give them the advantage of engaging more closely with their customers,” Vice President of Marketing Jennifer Anaya said in a statement, adding that this year’s Vendor of the Year winners “demonstrate the courage to partner well beyond sales transactions to join us in creating new and innovative go-to-market activities that build long-term value.”
Agency Ingram Micro employs more than 200, and posted annual revenue of about $80 million for the 12 months ended Dec. 31.
Bits & Pieces
Anaheim-based Northgate Markets partnered with the Chilean Blueberry Committee in San Carlos to launch Miguelito’s Cocina Club, a children’s cooking program, in the chain’s 41 stores. Youngsters made blueberry yogurt swirls and received blueberry activity booklets. … Visit Anaheim launched Heart-to-Heart, a giveback campaign providing CPR education and training to Anaheim residents. … Kawasaki’s headquarters building in Foothill Ranch was recognized for its “innovative working environment” with a 2017 REmmy Award in workspace design.
