The association for the U.S. video game industry welcomes new general counsel to its distinguished leadership team to lead legal, policy, regulatory and enforcement work.
WASHINGTON, DC., May 7, 2025 – The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) today announced that Stan McCoy has joined ESA to serve as senior vice president and general counsel, reporting to President and CEO Stanley Pierre-Louis. As the leader of ESA’s Legal, Regulatory and Policy and Intellectual Property Protection and Security teams, McCoy will drive the association’s legal, regulatory, policy, compliance, enforcement, litigation and contractual work.
McCoy brings to the ESA more than 25 years of experience overseeing legal and policy issues related to intellectual property, innovation and international trade. He joins ESA following a decade as a senior executive of the Motion Picture Association (MPA), where he served as president and managing director of the MPA EMEA region, while also holding board-level positions with the International Federation of Film Producers’ Organizations and the International Video Federation. He has extensive government experience, having served as the assistant U.S. trade representative for intellectual property and innovation from 2008 to 2014, and previously served in other policy and legal roles in the Executive Office of the President at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR). McCoy began his legal career at Covington & Burling.
“In an industry that depends on the protection of intellectual property to fuel future creativity and innovation, Stan’s extensive experience in government and industry is an immense asset to ESA,” said ESA President and CEO Stanley Pierre-Louis. “Stan will undoubtedly bolster our ability to continue to strengthen the power of the U.S. video game industry here and abroad, and we look forward to his leadership in driving key functions of the ESA.”
“For over three decades, the ESA has defended the video game industry and created a favorable regulatory environment where games could flourish into a $59.3 billion industry in the U.S. alone,” said McCoy. “I look forward to working with the ESA team, our member companies, policymakers and partners around the world in our ongoing work to protect the innovative marketplace for video games and ensure that everyone can experience the power of play.”
For more information on the ESA’s policy priorities, visit www.theesa.com.
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About the ESA
Founded in 1994, the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has served as the voice and advocate for the U.S. video game industry for more than 30 years. Its members are the innovators, creators, publishers and business leaders that are reimagining entertainment and transforming how we interact, learn, connect and play. The ESA works to expand and protect the dynamic marketplace for video games through innovative and engaging initiatives that showcase the positive impact of video games on people, culture and the economy to secure a vibrant future for the industry for decades to come. For more information, visit the ESA’s website or follow the ESA on X @theESA or Instagram @theesaofficial.
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