Tokyo, Japan – Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) announced today that Jim Ryan, President and CEO of SIE, will be retiring in March 2024 after nearly 30 years with the company. Ryan will be succeeded by Hiroki Totoki, current President, COO, and CFO of Sony Group Corp.
Ryan first joined Sony in 1994 and has played a pivotal role in PlayStation’s success over the years, spearheading the launches of all five PlayStation consoles. Under his leadership as CEO since 2019, PlayStation Studios expanded rapidly, acquiring talented developers like Housemarque, Nixxes, and Bungie.
“I’ve made the difficult decision to retire because I want to spend more time back home in the UK,” said Ryan in a heartfelt note to the PlayStation community. “I’m immensely proud of what we’ve achieved together and know PlayStation’s future is bright.”
Ryan will continue serving as CEO throughout 2023 to ensure a smooth leadership transition. Totoki will take over as interim SIE CEO starting April 2024.
“I’m honored to be appointed as Jim’s successor. We will work closely to ensure PlayStation continues to innovate and bring amazing gaming experiences to our fans globally,” said Totoki.
The veteran Sony executive has been with the company since 1987 and served as CFO since 2014. His financial acumen and operational leadership will be valuable assets guiding PlayStation’s future, although he lacks game industry experience compared to his predecessor.
Ryan departs PlayStation after an illustrious career but faced criticism over comments on game preservation and workforce diversity. His aggressive maneuvers were vital to blocking Microsoft’s attempted Activision Blizzard acquisition.
PlayStation now looks ahead to a new chapter under Totoki’s leadership. With supply shortages still hampering PS5 production and competition intensifying in the gaming market, he faces significant challenges out of the gate.
