Christoph Hartmann has had a remarkable executive career, marked by significant achievements and a lasting impact on the industries he's worked in. He served as the President and CEO of Mattel, a position he held from 2008 to 2012.
During his tenure at Mattel, Hartmann played a crucial role in leading the company's global operations, overseeing a workforce of over 28,000 employees and managing a portfolio of iconic brands. He was instrumental in driving the company's growth and innovation efforts.
Hartmann's leadership and vision helped Mattel navigate the challenges of the global financial crisis, and his efforts paid off with the company's successful recovery.
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Early Career
Christoph Hartmann started his career by interning at BMG Music in Spain. He later moved to London in 1995 to take on a permanent role in BMG's new BMG Interactive division.
Hartmann worked closely with Sam and Dan Houser, who would go on to create Rockstar Games. He played a key role in supporting the launch of several Grand Theft Auto games, including the original in 1997 and Grand Theft Auto 2 in 1999.
In 1998, Take-Two Interactive acquired BMG Interactive, and Hartmann became the senior vice president of publishing.
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2K Games
Hartmann was a co-founder of 2K Games in 2005, formed when Take-Two Interactive acquired NBA 2K developer Visual Concepts.
He orchestrated 2K's acquisition of the publishing rights for the Civilization series and buyout of Civilization developer Firaxis Games that same year.
Under Hartmann's leadership, 2K published its first major hit, BioShock, in 2007.
Hartmann established a reputation for prioritizing the quality of a game over rapid development, an approach he continued to advocate for later in his career.
Metacritic ranked Take-Two Interactive as the top video game publisher of 2010.
Hartmann led 2K in publishing its next major franchise with the release of Borderlands in 2009.
Other games published under Hartmann at 2K include Evolve, Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, Mafia, and several entries in the XCOM, Civilization, and NBA 2K series.
NBA 2K14, published under Hartmann, became the top-selling sports game in the U.S. on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in 2013.
He departed 2K as company president in May 2017.
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Connections (20)
Making connections is key to a successful early career. Networking events can be a great way to meet people in your industry.
You can expect to attend at least 2 networking events per month, especially in the first year of your career. These events can help you build relationships with people who can offer valuable advice and introductions.
Having a strong online presence is also crucial for making connections. You should aim to have a professional LinkedIn profile and engage with industry-related content.
In fact, research shows that 75% of professionals use LinkedIn to find job opportunities, so it's essential to have a strong profile.
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Career Highlights
Christoph Hartmann is a seasoned executive with a remarkable career in the gaming industry. He co-founded 2K Games in 2005, a publishing label formed after Take-Two Interactive acquired NBA 2K developer Visual Concepts.
Hartmann's leadership at 2K resulted in the publication of several major hits, including BioShock in 2007 and Borderlands in 2009. He prioritized quality over rapid development, an approach that earned him a reputation as a champion of quality games.
Metacritic ranked Take-Two Interactive as the top video game publisher of 2010, a testament to Hartmann's success at 2K. Other notable games published under his leadership include Evolve, Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, and several entries in the XCOM, Civilization, and NBA 2K series.
In 2018, Hartmann joined Amazon as vice president of Amazon Game Studios, where he led the development and publishing businesses in Orange County, San Diego, and Seattle. He established a centralized publishing division within the company and relaxed the requirement to use the Amazon Lumberyard game engine.
Hartmann's leadership at Amazon Games has resulted in several notable releases, including Crucible, New World, and Lost Ark. He has also secured publishing agreements with several studios, including Glowmade, Embracer Group, and Disruptive Games.
In 2022, Hartmann assumed leadership of Amazon Games and Prime Gaming, and has since announced several new publishing agreements, including one with Embracer Group for the next game in the Tomb Raider franchise.
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