Social and mobile games developer Zynga has recruited former EA Interactive exec, Barry Cottle, to be executive VP for business and corporate development.

Cottle has worked in the entertainment, technology and games sectors for more than 20 years with stints at Palm and The Walt Disney Company. He most recently oversaw mobile, social and casual games development as EVP at EA Interactive.

Zynga founder and CEO Mark Pincus said Cottle has a combination of "deep operational background" and the vision to see where a business wants to go. "His skill set, combined with his deep understanding of the games, technology and entertainment spaces will help us accelerate our mission of connecting the world through games," Pincus said.

Zynga recently raised US$1 billion via an IPO, valuing the firm at around US$7 billion. It made its name developing games for Facebook, such as FarmVille and Mafia Wars.