Jim Ryan is stepping down as CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment

Jim Ryan, CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE), will retire in March 2024. He has worked for Sony’s Playstation branch for 28 years and has been its CEO since 2019. Hiroki Totoki, also the COO of Sony Group Corporation, will temporarily take over Ryan’s role from April 1.

Ryan (63) writes on Wednesday that he “finds it difficult to live in Europe and work in North America.” That’s why he decided to stop working for Sony after 28 years. “I am extremely proud of what we have accomplished and very optimistic about the future of Sony Interactive Entertainment,” the CEO wrote in a blog on the company’s website.

In 1994, Ryan joined the European branch of SIE. There he held various leadership positions, including head of global sales and marketing. In 2019, Ryan took over the role of CEO from John Kodera. Ryan is known for his criticism of Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard and Xbox Game Pass. About the latter, the CEO claimed in June that game publishers are ‘not happy with Xbox Game Pass’ because it would be ‘value destroying’.

Hiroki Totoki will become chairman of Sony Interactive Entertainment in October, ahead of Ryan’s departure. Following his appointment as CEO, Totoki will work with Sony Group Corporation CEO Kenichiro Yoshida and the SIE management team to identify a suitable successor for Ryan, writes the company.

PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan. Source: Alex Wong / Getty Images