# STERN APPOINTS NEW PRESIDENT

**Source:** Pinball News Website  
**Type:** article  
**Published:** 2021-10-14  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://www.pinballnews.com/site/2021/10/14/stern-appoints-new-president

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## Analysis

Stern Pinball announced the appointment of Seth A. Davis as President, effective October 2021. Davis brings 21 years of gaming and entertainment industry experience from Disney and GE, including leadership roles on Disney+ and ESPN+. Gary Stern remains CEO and Chairman, with Dave Peterson continuing as Vice Chairman and EVP. Davis will report to Stern and lead the company's future strategic direction and operations.

### Key Claims

- [HIGH] Seth Davis has 21 years combined experience at Disney and GE — _Official press release with biographical details_
- [HIGH] Seth Davis spent 13 years at Disney in multiple business roles and led Disney+ and ESPN+ executive team — _Official biographical description in announcement_
- [HIGH] Davis spent 8 years at GE in finance and management roles — _Official biographical description_
- [HIGH] Gary Stern cited Davis's experience in gaming, operations, strategy, and general management as key reasons for hire — _Direct quote from Gary Stern in press release_

### Notable Quotes

> "Seth's appointment will further help secure our future. His experience in gaming, operations, strategy, and general management will help us continue our aggressive growth plans."
> — **Gary Stern**, October 14, 2021
> _CEO explicitly frames Davis hire as supporting 'aggressive growth plans' suggesting strategic expansion direction_

> "I'm really looking forward to working with Gary, Dave, and the rest of the leadership team, as well as our distribution, supply, and licensing partners to serve the pinball community."
> — **Seth Davis**, October 14, 2021
> _New President signals focus on partnerships and community service as key priorities_

> "He understands the passion of our customers and the company's priorities. Moreover, he has a record of success in analogous game businesses where creativity, technology, and business disciplines intersect."
> — **Dave Peterson**, October 14, 2021
> _VP endorsement emphasizes Davis's understanding of gaming culture and cross-disciplinary experience_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| Seth A. Davis | person | Newly appointed President of Stern Pinball; former Disney and GE executive with streaming and games experience |
| Gary Stern | person | Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Stern Pinball; remains in leadership role overseeing Davis |
| Dave Peterson | person | Vice Chairman and EVP of Stern Pinball; continues in role; endorsed Davis appointment |
| Stern Pinball, Inc. | company | Major pinball manufacturer based in Chicago; announces executive leadership change |
| The Walt Disney Company | company | Former employer of Seth Davis for 13 years; Davis served on Disney+ and ESPN+ executive teams |
| General Electric Company | company | Former employer of Seth Davis for 8 years; Davis held finance and management roles |
| Wharton School | organization | University where Seth Davis earned MBA in Entrepreneurial Management |
| Syracuse University | organization | University where Seth Davis earned BS in Accounting and Information Management & Technology |

### Topics

- **Primary:** Executive Leadership and Personnel Move, Stern Pinball Strategic Direction and Growth, Gaming and Entertainment Industry Experience
- **Secondary:** Corporate Succession and Management Structure, Streaming Services and Digital Gaming

### Sentiment

**Positive** (0.85) — Announcement presents Davis appointment as strategic positive with emphasis on growth, complementary experience, and cultural fit. All quoted executives express confidence and enthusiasm.

### Signals

- **[business_signal]** Stern Pinball leadership emphasizes 'aggressive growth plans' as rationale for new President appointment, suggesting strategic expansion intended (confidence: high) — Gary Stern quote: 'His experience in gaming, operations, strategy, and general management will help us continue our aggressive growth plans'
- **[personnel_signal]** Seth Davis appointed as President of Stern Pinball, bringing 21 years of gaming and entertainment experience from Disney and GE, including Disney+ and ESPN+ leadership (confidence: high) — Official press release announcement with full biographical details and quotes from Gary Stern, Dave Peterson, and Davis

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## Transcript

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| **CHICAGO, IL – October 14, 2021** – Stern Pinball, Inc. today announced the hiring of Seth A. Davis, 43, as President. Gary Stern, the Founder of Stern Pinball, will continue to serve as Chairman and CEO of the company. Dave Ashley Peterson will continue to serve as Vice Chairman and EVP of the company. As President, Seth will join the company’s leadership team and be accountable for the future performance of the company and its extended enterprise. He will report to Gary Stern.  A life-long gamer, prior to joining Stern Pinball, Seth spent a combined twenty-one years at The Walt Disney Company and the General Electric Company. He served in a wide variety of functions and in intrapreneurial roles, at increasingly senior levels.  Seth spent thirteen years at Disney where he gained experience in multiple businesses and was accountable for driving growth through strategy and execution. He led and managed both small and large teams spanning business, creative, and technical disciplines.  Immediately prior to joining Stern Pinball, Seth served on the executive team responsible for the highly successful subscription-based streaming services, Disney+ and ESPN+. Earlier in his career, Seth served in Disney Corporate Financial Planning leading business transformation projects; as Head of Product Management for Connected Experiences within Disney Games and Consumer Products as part of Walt Disney Imagineering; as leader of Disney’s Digital Games Console and PC line of business; and, as Director of Disney Games’ Strategy, Market Analytics, and Product Planning.  Before Disney, Seth spent eight years at the General Electric Company. He served as Senior Manager, Finance at GE Capital responsible for Strategic Analysis and Marketing. He started his GE career in the Financial Management Program where he completed four national rotations through GE business units and earned his Six Sigma Black Belt Certification.  “I am very excited to have Seth join our team at Stern Pinball,” said Gary Stern. “Seth’s appointment will further help secure our future. His experience in gaming, operations, strategy, and general management will help us continue our aggressive growth plans. As a life-long gamer, Seth understands the passion of pinball fans and our obligation to serve that growing global community through great pinball games and experiences.”  “I’m honored and very excited to join Stern Pinball,” said Davis. “I’m really looking forward to working with Gary, Dave, and the rest of the leadership team, as well as our distribution, supply, and licensing partners to serve the pinball community. We have a great foundation on which to build and I’m very excited about the future of Stern Pinball and pinball in general.”  “Seth is a great fit for the culture at Stern Pinball,” said Ashley Peterson. “He has complementary skills and a personality that fits well with the leadership team and the extended organization overall. He understands the passion of our customers and the company’s priorities. Moreover, he has a record of success in analogous game businesses where creativity, technology, and business disciplines intersect.”  Seth earned his MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania where he majored in Entrepreneurial Management. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Syracuse University with a double major in Accounting, and Information Management and Technology.  Seth, his wife Allison, and their three children are relocating to the Chicago area from Los Angeles.  **About Stern Pinball, Inc.** Stern Pinball, Inc. is a global lifestyle brand based on the iconic and outrageously fun modern American game of pinball. Headquartered minutes from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport in the heart of North America, the company creates, designs, engineers, manufactures, markets, and distributes a full line of technologically advanced terrestrial and digital pinball games, parts, accessories, and merchandise. Stern Pinball serves digital, consumer, commercial, and corporate markets around the globe.  Recent Stern Pinball titles include Godzilla, The Mandalorian, Led Zeppelin, Avengers: Infinity Quest, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Stranger Things, Elvira’s House of Horrors, Jurassic Park, Black Knight: Sword of Rage, The Munsters, The Beatles, Deadpool, Iron Maiden, Guardians of the Galaxy, Star Wars, Aerosmith, Ghostbusters, KISS, Metallica, Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead, Star Trek, AC/DC, Batman, and Spider-Man. A broad range of players enjoy Stern Pinball’s games from professional pinball players who compete in high-stakes competitions around the globe to novice players who are discovering the allure of the silver ball for the first time. To join the fun and learn more, please visit www.sternpinball.com. |

_(Acquisition: raw_text, Enrichment: v1)_

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*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 7c59bcb2-f0f4-4563-b3c8-82fe25960ae5*