John Schappert started his career in his early 20s, working for an EA competitor that he won't name. He left that company when he was 24 years old and founded Tiburon in Maitland, Florida with two friends. He grew that game development company to about US$10 million in revenue and 60 staff before selling it to EA in 1998 for an undisclosed amount.

He stayed with the new Tiburon division at EA, which became a publisher of video games as well as a developer and therefore counted revenues differently. When Schappert left the division in 2002, its revenues touched US$250 million.

EA offered him the chance to leave his native Florida to head its Canadian operations in Vancouver.

EA's Canadian video game development arm added about US$500 million to the parent company's global sales when Schappert took his post. He oversees EA Canada's programming, artwork, audio, research and development, quality assurance and strategy. In his two years at the helm, the division has grown to add more than US$1 billion to the parent company's coffers. Staff numbers have also jumped from 650 employees to more than 1,300, he said.

But Schappert isn't obsessed with numbers. "I don't come in here every day and load up Excel," he said. "I come in thinking about how we can make the best games that the market wants. That's what's cool about my job."

Schappert has overseen the creation of more than 50 EA games including the best-selling Madden NFL Football.

Profession you would like to try: Marine biologist

Where do you feel most comfortable? At my home video game console playing Miyamoto's latest game offering into the wee hours

Favourite movie: Braveheart

Currently reading: Digital Fortress by Dan Brown

Toughest decision: Leaving the company I started and worked at for eight years to come to run EA Canada

Car: Mercedes 500sl

Would most like to meet: David Letterman

Birthplace: Miami

Last CD bought: Louis Armstrong, What a Wonderful World

Education: Associate Arts degree from Miami Dade College

What's left to do: Play video games with my son