Activision said it named Dan Rosensweig, Yahoo former chief operating officer, to run the unit that develops the video game software maker's unit popular Guitar Hero franchise.

Rosensweig was named President and Chief Executive of RedOctane, the business unit behind Guitar Hero, a blockbuster title whose sales topped $800 million in 2008, according to industry estimates. He will oversee game development, hardware manufacturing, supply chain, logistics and marketing.

The former CEO of RedOctane, Kai Huang, will continue working at RedOctane, reporting to Rosensweig. Kai Huang and brother Charles Huang created Guitar Hero.

Like rival game Rock Band, developed by Viacom's MTV, Guitar Hero gamers play along to songs with controllers shaped like a guitar, drum set, or microphone.

In a statement, Activision said that Rosensweig, who served as Chief Operating Officer of Yahoo from 2002 through 2006, will help the company expand the franchise globally in new and innovative ways.

(Reporting by Franklin Paul; editing by Gunna Dickson)

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