Jim Ryan appointed Sony Interactive Entertainment president and CEO
Former SIE president and CEO John Kodera to fill Ryan's vacated role as deputy president
Today, Sony Interactive Entertainment has announced that its former deputy president Jim Ryan will be elevated to the role of president and CEO of SIE, as well as representative director and president of SIE's Japan-based legal entity. The appointment will be effective on April 1, 2019.
John (Tsuyoshi) Kodera, current president and CEO, will be stepping into the role vacated by Ryan as deputy president, as well as the role of representative director and deputy president of the SIE legal entity. Effectively, the two are swapping roles.
"I have been discussing with [Sony president and CEO, Kenichiro] Yoshida-san the need to drive SIE to the next phase in our rapidly changing business environment, and realize the evolution of the PlayStation platform and further enriching the user experiences made possible through the network, which is an essential value that people expect in the entertainment PlayStation provides," Kodera said. "As a result, we have concluded that the best direction is for Jim to take the helm of the overall management of SIE, and for me to spearhead the network area to continue creating innovative services and experiences, where competition continues to intensify with many new players joining the business.
"Jim has extensive knowledge around the game business and industry, as well as deep understanding of the PlayStation culture and strengths. I am confident that he will lead us to greater success as CEO of SIE. I will continue to support Jim by contributing to further strengthening user engagement, and to the overall growth of the PlayStation business."
Ryan began his time at the company at Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe in 1994, where he's held a number of senior and executive positions over the years, including president of SIEE for a period beginning in 2011. He has been deputy president of SIE for nearly a year.
"It's a huge honor to be asked to take on the role of President and CEO of SIE," Ryan said. "I've seen the PlayStation business grow and change massively since the very early days, and I hope to be able to put that experience to good use in reinforcing the foundations of the Game & Network Service business, and in evolving the entertainment that PlayStation offers to its engaged and passionate community.
"Working with John and the SIE team around the world, I am committed to strengthening relations with our business partners, and to continuing to provide the ultimate interactive entertainment experiences that make PlayStation the Best Place to Play."