Doug Bowser is bidding farewell to the Mushroom Kingdom, announcing his retirement from Nintendo of America.
Announced via press release, Bowser said today that he would be stepping down from his position as President and Chief Operating Officer and retiring on December 31st, 2025. He will be succeeded by Devon Pritchard, a 19-year veteran of the video game industry and long-standing member of the NOA leadership team.
“One of my earliest video game experiences was playing the arcade version of Donkey Kong,” said Bowser. “Since that time, all things Nintendo have continued to be a passion for both me and my family. Leading Nintendo of America has been the honour of a lifetime, and I am proud of what our team has accomplished in both business results and the experiences we’ve created for consumers.”
In addition, Satoru Shibata will join NOA as Chief Executive Officer, while continuing his roles as Managing Executive Officer and Corporate Director, Member of the Board at Nintendo Co., Ltd. (NCL). Pritchard will also join the NOA Board of Directors and become an NCL Executive Officer.
“I am humbled and excited to take on this new role,” said Pritchard. “Doug has been a fantastic mentor, and I look forward to building on the incredible foundation he has helped establish. With characters and worlds that offer something for everyone, my focus will be continuing to build on Nintendo’s legacy of surprising and delighting our longtime fans, while at the same time welcoming new players into the Nintendo family.”
Bowser was brought into the role of President and COO in 2019 following the retirement of Reggie Fils-Aimé. During his time with Nintendo, the company saw significant expansion into entertainment ventures such as theme parks and films, all with the goal of giving more people more opportunities to engage with Nintendo’s characters and worlds.
Pritchard has held executive positions in Marketing, Business Affairs, and Publisher Relations, and currently serves as NOA’s Executive Vice President of Revenue, Marketing and Consumer Experience. Her aim is to put Nintendo fans at the top of her agenda—building on the many experiences that allow consumers to connect with Nintendo’s characters and worlds, from video games to entertainment to retail experiences.
