Glenn Gillis

I am a co-founder of the Pan Africa Gaming Group (PAGG) - a network of the largest impact and pure entertainment gaming studios on the continent. We are building a world-class gaming ecosystem to attract serious investment and deliver high quality and authentic gaming solutions to the world. We represent most of the experienced game design and development capacity on the continent, and are actively looking for ways to unlock the potential of the world’s next 1 billion players, together.

I am grateful to serve as the inaugural chairperson of Games for Change Africa - the regional chapter of the global Games for Change nonprofit organisation, founded in New York 20 years ago. Games for Change promotes the idea that games can have an impact beyond pure entertainment. Our chapter brings together a diverse range of skills, expertise and capacity, to celebrate and promote opportunities in the serious gaming space for games in Africa, made by Africa, for the world. Our flagship event is our Games for Change Africa event held annually in December as part of Africa Games Week.

I am the co-founder and CEO of Sea Monster Entertainment - a global leader in the impact gaming space. Based in Cape Town, Sea Monster offers game design and development services to large corporates and public benefit organisations in South Africa, across Africa and around the world. Operating at the intersection of play and purpose, Sea Monster understands how to use storytelling and the power of games to offer solutions to global problems by driving business goals and social outcomes. I am responsible for the entire business, strategy and funding for Sea Monster which currently employs a core team of 38 people, plus a network of over 30 service providers and specialist developers. I am also a regular speaker at international industry events and conferences.

The Relate Trust is an established Not For Profit Organisation based in Cape Town, South Africa. Relate makes and markets beaded bracelets, that generate benefits at 3 levels: By creating income for the beaders; providing a means for worthy causes to raise funds; and by connecting people to those causes. Relate is aligned to United Against Malaria, The Gates Foundation, Amy Foundation and many other worthy causes. To date we have sold 3m + bracelets and generated in excess of 350 full time equivalent jobs and R68m+ in beneficiary payments (as at June 22).

Glenn was the General Manager of Clockwork Zoo, the largest 2D animation and live TV production business in South Africa. During this time he succesfully completed a restructuring and rescue plan for the company. He dealt with the banks and other creditors, implemented a full turn-around strategy, whilst ensuring that the company delivered over 26 hours of international quality animation content to the likes of Disney. Glenn had overall responsibility for the company strategy, financial and other support services, the daily running of the business as well as the management of a team of over 120 managers, producers, animators and content creators.

Glenn provided strategy, hands-on management, business research, facilitation and consulting services to a wide range of private and government organisations. He developed extensive experience specifically in the area of the media, creative and film sectors. In addition Glenn had many projects and management assignments across various industries including IT companies, travel agencies, architectural practices, and manufacturing businesses amongst others. Glenn also put together a property development in the hospitality industry, which was succesfully completed in February 2010. In the public sector he has worked with the IDC, the DTI, the Cape Film Commission and the Department of Economic Development, where he was appointed to the steering committee of the Regional Innovation Council in 2010. He was involved in the drafting of the Film Rebate strategy and also had significant input into enterprise and skills development and transformation initiatives across the film and media industry.

Engaged as GM at Moonlighting, a company that provides production services for commercial, film and TV projects globally. Roles include formulating international business strategy, implementing management controls and generally improving the day-to-day management of the company. Glenn had overall responsibility for the shared services division which includes finance, marketing, IT, operations and HR. He also oversaw the expansion of the businesses in Romania, Chile and Namibia.

This company was the pre-eminent supplier of wood and canvas parasols (market umbrellas) in the world. Clients include most of the largest FMCG brands, as well as hotels groups and retailers internationally. Responsibilities included co-ordinating the international selling and marketing effort, input into the strategic direction of the company and implementation of all marketing plans and budgets. Glenn organised and implemented global sales and marketing strategy across 30 countries and grew the export component of manufacturing business from 40% to 70% in 3 years. Glenn was part of the team that won the DTI’s President’s Award for Export Achievement in 1999.

Employed by one of the largest import and distribution company in Africa, to oversee the marketing initiative within their various trading divisions. Responsibilities included liaison with overseas suppliers, brand management functions (including brands such as Red Bull, Hershey’s, Lindt chocolates, Wrigley’s and many other leading global brands). He provided strategic input into the group as a whole. Glenn acquired and managed agencies for leading global brands and conceptualised and implemented launch or growth strategies for these. He managed the sales team, including 5 sales managers and over 80 reps and key account managers