Glu Mobile's long search for a new president and CEO is over with Hands-On Mobile's president and CEO Niccolo de Masi filling the position.

"The board of directors of Glu is delighted that Niccolo will be joining us as Glu's next President and CEO. We are convinced that he has exactly the right combination of energy, experience and skill to lead the company to a growing and profitable future," said Bill Miller, chairman of the board of Glu.

It's appears a slightly strange decision however as de Masi - who was previously Hands-On's president - only took on the additional role of its CEO in October 2009 following the mysterious departure of David White.

But considering the recent restructuring and layoffs at Hands-On, it's clearly a sensible move for him.

It would also provide a reason why Glu's search for a CEO was so prolonged; it would have had to have waited until de Masi got Hands-On on an even kneel before jumping ship.

The wider question of whether the decision to headhunt the boss of a smaller competitor that was experiencing corporate woes will impressive Glu's shareholders is one that will no doubt become clear in the pricing the NASDAQ-listed company's shares over the coming weeks.

Still, de Masi does have a decent track record. Before Hands-On, he was CEO of London-listed Monstermob, and prior to that worked in corporate finance. As part of the deal, he also received a stock option to buy 1.25 million of Glu's common shares, which are currently $1.21, providing him with an incentive to raise their price considerably.

Which just leaves us wondering who's going to replace de Masi at Hands-On Mobile?