In her new role Mercurio will oversee all legal, policy, research, advocacy, action, lobbying, and government affairs for ECA.

“Jennifer’s track record of success speaks for itself along with her commitment to our advocacy mission for gamers,” said ECA President Hal Halpin. “With the growing recognition of the demographic power of gamers we felt it important to expand her role to take advantage of our momentum on issues such as free speech, broadband access, and the rights of gaming consumers.”

The promotion signals the increasing influence of the ECA’s government affairs and policy efforts on behalf of gamers following its recent establishment of the ECA Institute, a charitable non-profit that helps develop and implement ECA public policy positions.

Before joining the ECA, Mercurio headed JB Mercurio & Associates, Ltd., a grassroots action and advocacy firm for non-profits and businesses. Previous to that she was Director of Government Relations and Legal Affairs for the YMCA of Greater New York and Associate General Counsel and Director of State Legislative Affairs for the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), which included the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) and Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3). She lives in New York and has served as President of the NY State chapter of the National Women’s Political Caucus, on the Board of Directors for the Alliance for Women’s Equality and been active in many successful political campaigns across the country.