Electronic Arts Distribution (often abbreviated to EAD) was the third-party licensing and publishing division of Electronic Arts. It was originally formed in the 1980s and led by Larry Probst. In 1997, Tom Frisina, previously of Accolade and Three-Sixty (two other EAD partners), became the head of the division. In 2003, amidst a push from EA president John Riccitiello, the company was renamed to EA Partners; Frisna left the company the following year.