Sony Computer Entertainment have tonight announced that Jack Tretton will step down from his role as President and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA).
He will leave the role as of March 31st and comes as a result of a mutual agreement between Mr. Tretton and SCEA not to renew their contractual relationship.
His replacement, from April 1st will be Shawn Layden, currently Executive Vice President and COO of Sony Network Entertainment Internationa.
Jack Tretton has a fantastic history with Sony, and has been there since its inception in 1995. He is a founding member of the executive team and played a huge part in launching all PlayStation platforms in North America, including the original PlayStation, PlayStation 2, PSP (PlayStation®Portable), PlayStation 3, PlayStation Network, and PlayStation Vita. He also helped launch the PlayStation 4, which sold more than one million units in 24 hours in North America and is now the #1 next generation gaming console in North America and worldwide. During his tenure, Tretton was also responsible for achieving several industry milestones, including surpassing 50 million units sold of PlayStation 2 in North America, and aggressively growing the PlayStation business in Canada and Latin America.
Speaking about leaving, Mr Tretton stated:
Working at SCEA for the past 19 years has been the most rewarding experience of my career, Although I will deeply miss the talented team at SCEA and the passion demonstrated every day by our fans, I’m very excited about starting the next chapter of my career. I want to thank the employees, partners and customers for their tireless commitment to the PlayStation brand and, of course, to our fans who have pushed us to new heights of innovation and entertainment over the past two decades. I leave PlayStation in a position of considerable strength and the future will only get brighter for PlayStation Nation.
His replacement, Mr Layden is also a Sony veteran, being there for 15 years. He joined directly from Sony Computer Entertainment, where he most recently held the position of President, Sony Computer Entertainment Japan. His career at Sony Computer Entertainment also included eight years at SCE Worldwide Studios in London where he directed international software development. He had this to say regarding his upcoming new role:
It’s an honor and privilege to join Sony Computer Entertainment America and be a part of the team that is leading the next generation of gaming and entertainment, SCEA is committed to delivering breakthrough gaming experiences that inspire fans and exceed their wildest expectations. As PS4™ shows us every day, there has never been a better time to be part of the PlayStation community and I look forward to working with our retail, development, publishing and network partners to further demonstrate why PlayStation is the best place to play.
Andrew House, President and Group CEO, Sony Computer Entertainment also added:
I’ve worked with Jack for nearly two decades and I want to personally thank him for his leadership and the considerable contributions he’s made to the SCEA business and PlayStation brand over the years. I wish him nothing but the best in his future endeavors, I also want to welcome Shawn to the Sony Computer Entertainment America team. I have the utmost confidence in Shawn’s leadership capabilities, and his deep knowledge of the gaming industry and commitment to gamers, will help keep PlayStation at the forefront of entertainment and innovative gameplay.
Here at NGB, we would like to wish Mr Tretton all the well for the future. Be sure to let us know your thoughts via the comment section below.
