After starting at Sony Europe in 1994, Jim Ryan has catapulted himself to the top position as CEO of SIE and Head of PlayStation, and after nearly 30 long years he’s decided to step down.
Sony Interactive Entertainment dropped a massive bombshell Wednesday evening, Jim Ryan, the current Head of PlayStation and SIE CEO has decided to call it a career after almost 30 years with the business. Ryan started as a Sony Europe employee in 1994 and has held numerous leadership positions at the house that built the PlayStation, and remarkably worked at the company for longer than the PlayStation console. The original PlayStation launched in 1994 along with Jim Ryan’s career at Sony, and he’s been with the company through five console generations.
Jim Ryan said “After 30 years, I have made the decision to retire from SIE in March 2024. I’ve relished the opportunity to have a job I love in a very special company, working with great people and incredible partners. But I’ve found it increasingly difficult to reconcile living in Europe and working in North America. I will leave having been privileged to work on products that have touched millions of lives across the world; PlayStation will always be part of my life, and I feel more optimistic than ever about the future of SIE. I want to thank Yoshida-san for placing so much trust in me and being an incredibly sensitive and supportive leader.”
SIE is aiming to support Jim Ryan through his transition, and Sony Group Corporation President, COO and CFO Hiroki Totoki will take over the role of Chairman of SIE this October. Starting on April 1, 2024, Totoki will be appointed the Interim CEO of SIE while he keeps his regular role at Sony. Totoki will work closely with Sony Group Corp. Chairman and CEO Kenichiro Yoshida and the management team of SIE to smoothly transition from Ryan’s leadership going into his retirement in the Spring.
CEO Yoshida praised Ryan for his work, saying “Jim Ryan has been an inspirational leader throughout his entire period with us, but never more so than in overseeing the launch of PlayStation 5 in the midst of the global COVID pandemic” with “I’m immensely grateful to Jim for all his achievements.”
As SIE transitions from the leadership of Jim Ryan, fans can rest assured the company is in good hands seeing as how the PS5 has sold over 40 million consoles worldwide as of Q1 2023. Fans can also flock to the official press release for more information.
