Channel 4 has appointed Colin Macdonald as its first Games Commissioning Editor. Based in Glasgow, he will report into Convergent Formats Commissioner Anna Cronin.

Channel 4 calls Macdonald “a respected and pioneering figure who has worked on innovative titles including Lemmings, Grand Theft Auto and Crackdown”. In his newly created role, he will act as Channel 4′;s main point of contact for gaming companies and will be responsible for commissioning games that complement TV shows and projects that have the potential to cross over to TV.

Head of Channel 4 Online Richard Davidson-Houston said: “This appointment is a step towards becoming a partner of choice for independent creative voices from a range of disciplines and from around the UK.”

Convergent Formats Commissioner Anna Cronin added: “I am hugely excited that Colin’;s joining Channel 4 in this newly created role. He’;s a class act, with acres of gaming experience including working on some of my favourite games. I couldn’;t imagine a better creative talent to be championing games for Channel 4.”

Macdonald entered the games industry in 1990 as Software Manager of SAM Computers, the manufacturer of the last British home computer. After that, he founded and ran a small games development and publishing company bringing twenty titles to market, including licences of Lemmings and Prince of Persia. He joined DMA Design in 1997 as Producer on the Grand Theft Auto franchise. Next, he helped found and was Studio Manager of Realtime Worlds, where he helped raise over $80m in investment and oversaw development of the two million selling, BAFTA-winning game Crackdown.