David Mc Darby
About David Mc Darby
David Mc Darby serves as an Associate Product Manager at Wizards of the Coast, where he has contributed significantly to product development and marketing since 2021. He has played a key role in guiding digital transitions, advocating for diversity, and enhancing operational efficiency across various projects.
Work at Wizards of the Coast
David Mc Darby has been serving as an Associate Product Manager at Wizards of the Coast since 2021. In this role, he has acted as a Subject Matter Expert for over 40 internal processes, providing essential knowledge to operations, design, and technical teams. His contributions have been significant during the global pandemic, where he guided the digital transition of Magic play, accommodating daily player communities that ranged from 7,000 to 50,000. Prior to this position, he worked as an Operations Administrator at the same company from 2015 to 2022.
Education and Expertise
David Mc Darby studied International Business at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) from 2006 to 2011. His academic background has equipped him with a solid foundation in business principles, which he applies in his current role. His expertise includes managing prototypes and projects, predicting risks, and setting milestones to ensure successful development.
Background in Game Development
Before joining Wizards of the Coast, David worked at StarCityGames.com as an Acquisitions Representative from 2011 to 2014. In this role, he designed and implemented various gameplay elements, including cosmetic features and reward structures, aimed at achieving revenue goals for Magic: The Gathering products. His experience in collaborating with external designers has also helped them realize their creative visions.
Achievements in Marketing and Inclusion
David has initiated several marketing campaigns that have had a measurable impact on user engagement and revenue. Notably, he launched a campaign that increased Daily Active Users by 52% and monthly revenue by 22%. He also created the first cross-program marketing campaign to deliver free content featuring LGBTQ+ characters, demonstrating his commitment to diversity and inclusion within the gaming community.
Innovations and Prototypes
In his role at Wizards of the Coast, David has initiated over 10 new prototypes and projects. He has focused on enhancing operational efficiency through low-cost engineering efforts and process overhauls. Additionally, he has translated design elements from established intellectual properties like Street Fighter and Warhammer 40K into Wizards of the Coast games through the Universes Beyond initiative.