Thanks for taking part Leon - so, how long have you been at PKR?
Since day one. I worked with Jez San (President of PKR) in a former life and we started the company (then know as Crunchy Frog Games) that would become PKR.
What's your job title?
I’m the COO – that’s Chief Operating Officer
OK then, but what do you really do all day?
It’s changed rather a lot over the years, but primarily I run all of product development. I’m the one who designs and directs what should and shouldn’t happen with regard to the end user experience (what you see and what happens when you play the game).
I try and approach customer acquisition and retention challenges from a smart game design perspective (ED - that means he thinks a lot about getting us new customers and keeing the ones we've got!) so I’m constantly looking at ways to give people what they want - as well as things they don’t even know they want yet. I think the recent release of the portal is a good example of that. Then there’s long term strategy for product development and management of the development team too.
What do you like most about your job?
The power and the fame ... oh, hang on. I work with a lot of talented people, so I consider myself a pretty lucky guy to be in the position I’m in.
What keeps you up at night?
My dog, Oscar.
As a person who seems to enjoy both immensely, is it better to be lucky or good?
I’ll go with Napoleon on that one every time – lucky. But what some people consider luck is often someone working their b***s off for years to make their own ‘luck’.
If you could have one super-power that you could only use at work, what would it be?
That’d have to be teleportation. Imagine the time, money and hassle you’d save! From never having to visit an airport again to popping in and out of your local bank vault, there is no end to it’s utility. No cars, no trains, no buses – that alone is worth giving up x-ray vision and flying and all that nonsense. Live anywhere, work anywhere. Oh hang on, you wouldn’t have to work. Want to hit the beach? Boom! Ski? Bam! I think I’ve made my point.
What do you do to relax after a long day at PKR?
Probably much like anyone else I go home, walk the dog, maybe go to my local pub and solve all the world's ills over a Guinness.