Jack Tretton, Sony Computer Entertainment America’s President and CEO since 2006, has announced that he is stepping down, effective March 31. Shawn Layden, the current Executive Vice President and COO of Sony Computer Entertainment International, will take over for Tretton on April 1, 2014.
According to the press release announcing Tretton’s sudden departure, the decision to part ways is mutual.
“This is a result of a mutual agreement between Mr. Tretton and SCEA not to renew their contractual relationship,” the press release states.
Tretton has been with Sony since 1995, and was part of the team responsible for launching the first PlayStation in America on September 9, 1995. Since then he has been instrumental in all hardware launches, as well as on the publishing side of things, and in 2006 he was named the President and Chief Executive Officer of SCEA.
“Working at SCEA for the past 19 years has been the most rewarding experience of my career,” Tretton said in the release. “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.”
Layden has been with Sony for 15 years, and in that time he has held several positions, including his current post as President of Sony Computer Entertainment International. Prior to that, he spent time at Sony Computer Entertainment Japan, Sony’s worldwide studios in London, and Sony Computer Entertainment.
“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,” Layden said. “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.”
Layden will report to Andrew House, SCE President and Group CEO.
“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,” House said. “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.”
No word yet on what is next for Tretton. Expect to hear more on this developing story.
