The fact that three of Nintendo of America’s top executives are now gone was probably at the bottom of your list of concerns at the turn of the New Year, but it was going to happen sometime. We already know that Cammie Dunaway has filled Reggie’s former and vacant position. Now, former Reebok marketing exec Denise Kaigler will take over in Perrin Kaplan’s position. Kaigler has previously served as the head of corporate communications for both Reebok and Adidas.

In other news, Bill Van Zyll will take over Nintendo’s operations in Latin America. Van Zyll is coming from a position at Whirlpool. Yes, the dishwasher company.

Press release after the break.

NINTENDO APPOINTS TWO SALES & MARKETING EXECUTIVES TO BAY AREA OFFICE

VP and GM Bring Strong Credentials to Keep Nintendo’s Momentum Going
REDMOND, Wash., Jan. 14, 2008 - Nintendo of America announces the appointment of two sales and marketing executives to work from the company’s new Bay Area office in Redwood City, Calif. Denise Kaigler joins as vice president of Marketing & Corporate Affairs, while Bill van Zyll becomes the new director and general manager of Latin America. Van Zyll’s appointment is effective immediately, while Kaigler starts Feb. 18. Both will report to Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing.

“Denise and Bill bring a wealth of branding and marketing experience to our team,” Dunaway said. “Their expertise will help us keep Nintendo’s momentum going strong throughout 2008 and beyond.”

Kaigler will oversee all aspects of corporate affairs, including corporate communications, public relations, government affairs, investor and analyst relations, and internal communications for Nintendo of America, and will play a key role in global coordination. Kaigler comes to Nintendo following a 16-year tenure at Reebok International, where she serves as head of Global Corporate Communications and Corporate Citizenship. She also serves as head of Corporate Communications in the United States for the adidas Group, the parent company of Reebok. Kaigler replaces Perrin Kaplan, who left Nintendo at the end of December.

Kaigler is an active participant in several professional and nonprofit organizations, including Bottom Line, an organization committed to helping low income, first-generation-to-college students get into and graduate from college, and go far in life. She is a graduate of Emerson College in Boston, where she majored in journalism. Kaigler serves as a member of the Emerson College Board of Overseers.

Van Zyll heads Nintendo of America’s Latin America department, which is responsible for the creation, direction and implementation of short- and long-term sales, marketing, and operational strategies for Latin America. He comes to Nintendo of America after more than 15 years at the Whirlpool Corporation, where for the past four years he has served as Director of Finance for Sales for the company’s North American region. Van Zyll also served in other key international capacities, which included overseeing Whirlpool’s operations in Latin America, and brings his extensive experience in sales and marketing to Nintendo.

Van Zyll earned a master’s degree in business administration with a specialization in international business from the University of Miami and bachelor’s degrees in finance and accounting from the University of Arizona. He is fluent in English, Spanish and Dutch, and proficient in Italian.

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