Jim Ryan, leader of PlayStation, announces retirement

Jim Ryan, the long-standing President and CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE), is set to retire in March 2024, marking the end of a 28-year-long career with the PlayStation brand. Hiroki Totoki, President, Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Sony Group Corporation, will step into the role of Chairman of SIE starting October 2023. 

Under Jim Ryan's guidance, Sony achieved noteworthy milestones, the most prominent of which was the launch of the highly anticipated PlayStation 5. Despite the formidable challenges posed by supply chain disruptions during and after the Covid-19 pandemic, PlayStation 5 shipments demonstrated notable resilience, with Sony declaring the sale of an impressive 40 million PS5 units in July 2023. 

"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," stated Ryan in an official statement regarding his retirement. He added that he had found it difficult living in Europe while 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," said Ryan.

Effective April 1, 2024, Hiroki Totoki will take on the role of Interim CEO of SIE while concurrently fulfilling his current responsibilities at Sony Group Corporation. In this capacity, Totoki will work closely with Kenichiro Yoshida, the Chairman and CEO of Sony Group Corporation, as well as the SIE management team, to chart the course for the future of PlayStation.

One of the most pressing tasks for Totoki will be to oversee the succession planning for the SIE CEO role, a role that Jim Ryan has played with distinction for many years. The search for the next leader of SIE will be pivotal in determining the direction of PlayStation's future ventures and endeavours.

This transition comes at a critical juncture for the PlayStation brand, as it continues to evolve and adapt to the rapidly changing landscape of the gaming industry. PlayStation has been at the forefront of gaming innovation for decades, with a rich legacy of iconic titles and cutting-edge technology.