Focus Home Interactive has promoted former business director John Bert to COO.

The executive promotion is in advance of what the publisher expects to be a promising second half of the year. In H1, Focus posted a 33 per cent year-over-year increase in revenue up to $50.4 million.

Digital sales made up 65 per cent of the total, with 90 per cent of the French publisher’s sales occurring internationally.

With only one major launch during H1, Focus has promise going into H2. The publisher is releasing a number of titles during the period, including Call of Cthulu, Farming Simulator 19, and Insurgency: Sandstorm. That last one, Focus claims, has had the highest number of PC pre-orders in the publisher’s history.

Bert’s promotion is a part of a wider executive mix-up in advance of H2. In addition, Aurélie Rodrigues has been named sales director, and Dessil Basmadjian takes on the role of creative director.

"The appointment of John Bert as the Group's chief operating officer is an excellent signal to our business partners, the Focus teams and the Group's shareholders," said board chairman Jürgen Goeldner.

"His special relations with the studios, his commercial skills and his ability to identify the sector's fundamental trends make him a key element in assisting the Group with regards to new strategic areas and its future operational priorities. FOCUS is a Group that has always been able to work with the best talents to achieve its high objectives."

Vincent Chataignier takes on Bert's old role as business director of Focus Home Interactive.