Video Games Europe has appointed Clemens Mayer-Wegelin, European General Counsel and Senior Director at Nintendo of Europe, as its new chair. Mayer-Wegelin has served on the Video Games Europe board since 2018, making him a known presence within the trade association before stepping into the top role.
The appointment, announced on 24 March 2026, comes as EU digital sector policy sits near the top of Brussels’ legislative agenda. Hester Woodliffe, SVP Publishing International at Warner Bros. Games, steps down after two years as chair.
What the new Video Games Europe chair said
Mayer-Wegelin pointed to EU policy as his central concern. “This is a particularly exciting time to take on this role with the digital sector and related issues high on the EU policy agenda,” he said. “I look forward to working with the Brussels team and Video Games Europe members around Europe to further improve our engagement with policy makers and to highlight the many positive and impactful aspects of our unique industry.”
His background fits the work ahead. As European General Counsel at Nintendo, he has spent years working through European digital regulation from the industry side. The trade association’s work centres on exactly that terrain: age rating frameworks, digital markets policy, and the ongoing implementation of EU legislation including the Digital Services Act and the AI Act.
Beyond regulatory work, the chair role involves representing the industry to politicians and regulators across member states. Mayer-Wegelin’s position at Nintendo gives him direct knowledge of how EU rules play out for a major publisher with a complex platform business.
Outgoing chair thanked for EU advocacy
Video Games Europe CEO Simon Little welcomed Mayer-Wegelin and thanked Woodliffe for her contribution. “We are delighted to welcome Clemens to the role of Chair of Video Games Europe. He brings a wealth of expertise. We will be working together to champion our exciting sector and to support our members across Europe,” Little said.
He added that Woodliffe had provided “invaluable support in raising the profile of Europe’s video games sector and its issues with Europe’s policy makers over the past two years.”
Woodliffe’s tenure ran through a busy period for European digital regulation. The Digital Markets Act came into force during those two years, introducing rules that directly affect how games are distributed across app stores and console platforms in Europe.
Video Games Europe’s role in the industry
The trade body represents major publishers and developers across Europe, working with EU institutions and national governments on consumer protection, intellectual property, and digital policy. It also administers the PEGI age rating system, which covers games sold across the continent.
With the AI Act and platform regulation still rolling out, the new chair will need to engage with proposals that will shape how games are developed, sold, and rated across the EU. Mayer-Wegelin’s eight years on the board mean he is stepping into the role with an established understanding of both the organisation and what it faces in Brussels.