Frank Pearce, co-founder and executive VP of product development at Blizzard, has now assumed another title. The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences has announced Pearce has joined the board of directors, effective immediately. Pearce says he wants to leverage his experience with the passionate Blizzard community to "bring broader mainstream exposure to the Academy."

"I've always appreciated the Academy's commitment to advancing the gaming medium and fostering creativity within our industry," said Pearce in the announcement. "I'm honored to be chosen for this role on the Board, and I look forward to drawing on my experiences at Blizzard to help support and contribute to the AIAS' ongoing mission."

In a separate Q&A, Pearce commented on the Academy's focus towards recognizing achievement within the industry. "Peer recognition is the highest honor one can receive in our industry, or any other entertainment medium," he said. "To have your work validated by other similarly situated people is tremendously humbling. Our industry is filled with thousands of extremely talented and creative folks. These people are experts in their field and specializations, so when we are recognized by our fellow developers, we know the awards are well deserved. Peer recognition also gives us the opportunity to see where we might be falling short based on the honored works of other studios and developers."

Academy president Martin Rae said they're "thrilled" to have him aboard, and look forward to his "valuable perspective."