Digital Development Management (DDM), the world’s leading business and talent agency for video games and digital entertainment, is expanding into Japan and opening a base of operations in that region. DDM, which already services clients via offices in the US and Sweden, is taking on new opportunities in Japan to service publishers and developers seeking relationships in North America and Europe. As part of the effort, DDM has brought on veteran video game executive, Ben Judd, as Lead Agent to head the initiative. The announcement was made jointly today by DDM’s Founder and Managing Partner, Jeff Hilbert and DDM President, Joe Minton.

Hilbert stated: "DDM is uniquely positioned to leverage our experience and success in Europe and domestic territories to create new business opportunities for the video game community at large in Japan. Ben’s breadth of publisher experience in Japan combined with our ever-expanding client roster allows DDM to generate and facilitate projects for publishers, brand and license holders, and investors now on a worldwide basis."

As part of day-to-day activities in Japan, Judd will work to support DDM’s client roster of developers to align them with publishers. In addition, he will provide development support for clients including negotiating deals and locating high-quality outsource opportunities that provide the necessary tools and services required for a particular project. Judd will dual-report to Minton and Hilbert, as they continue to oversee global growth strategies for DDM.

Previously a Producer at Capcom working out of Japan, Judd is well positioned to head the new office in his Lead Agent role. As the first foreign producer at a major Japanese publisher, Judd worked on a variety of Capcom’s biggest franchises from "Resident Evil" and "Devil May Cry" to classics like "Mega Man." His experience in working at both the US branch office and the Japanese head office, along with producing multiple international collaborative projects gives him a unique understanding of the how best to negotiate deals between companies several oceans apart.