Jim Ryan, the CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE), will retire in March 2024 after nearly three decades with Sony.
Ryan, who took over as CEO of SIE in 2019, has played a key role in the success of the PlayStation brand. His departure comes as a surprise, considering the recent achievements of the PlayStation 5 (PS5) under his leadership.
Ryan’s tenure at Sony began shortly before the launch of the original PlayStation in 1994. During his time at the company, he held various roles and eventually became CEO of SIE.
He has overseen the PS5 since its launch in 2020, which has seen significant success.
In a statement, Ryan explained that his decision to leave is related to the challenges of living in Europe while working in North America.
Despite his departure, he expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to work for Sony and the positive impact he has had on millions of lives through PlayStation.
Hiroki Totoki, Sony’s Chief Operating Officer, will assume the role of interim CEO after Ryan’s departure.
Ryan’s leadership was particularly noteworthy during the PS5’s launch, which faced supply issues. Scalpers took advantage of the situation, reselling the consoles at inflated prices.
However, Sony addressed these supply problems, and the PS5 has gone on to sell 40 million units worldwide.