Jack Tretton is to leave his position as the President and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment America at the end of the month.
After 19 years at the company, Tretton will leave his role at Sony with mutual consent, effective March 31. The following letter was posted on the US PlayStation Blog:
It is with mixed feelings that I inform you that I will be stepping down as President and CEO of SCEA effective March 31, 2014. This is a result of a mutual agreement with SCEA, and I leave knowing that the PlayStation brand has never been stronger, PlayStation 4 momentum continues to accelerate, and the future will only get brighter for our gamers.
Serving PlayStation fans for the past 19 years has been one of the most rewarding experiences in my career. Your passion for gaming inspired me every day.
I want to thank you for constantly pushing PlayStation to deliver breakthrough gaming and entertainment experiences, and to never settle for "good enough." The embodiment of this commitment can be found in the PS4, which has quickly become the #1 next-gen console worldwide...thanks to you.
Shawn Layden, who is currently EVP and COO of Sony Network Entertainment International, will take on the role of CEO of SCEA from April 1. Layden has been with the company for 15 years, was part of the team that founded SNEI in 2010, and has also held roles in SCE Japan and SCE Worldwide Studios.
"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," added Layden. "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."
Andrew House, President of Sony Computer Entertainment, then got in on the action: "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. 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."