Sony Announces Retirement of PlayStation Chief Jim Ryan and Appointment of Interim CEO

Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Jim Ryan will retire in March 2024 after more than 30 years of service. Sony has announced that Hiroki Totoki, the current president and chief financial officer of Sony Group Corporation, will serve as interim CEO.

Jim Ryan took over the role of CEO of PlayStation in 2019, succeeding John Kodera. He first joined Sony in 2004 at Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe. Since then, Ryan has had a distinguished career in a number of leadership positions, including President of SIEE, Director of Global Sales and Marketing at SIE, Vice President of SIE since January 2018, and ultimately CEO of SIE.

“After 30 years I have made the decision to retire from SIE in March 2024. I have enjoyed the opportunity to have a job that I love in a very special company where I work with great people and incredible partners. But I have found it increasingly difficult to balance living in Europe and working in the Nordic in America,” Ryan said.

He added: “I’m leaving because I’ve had the privilege of working on products that have touched millions of lives around the world. PlayStation will always be a part of my life, and I’m more optimistic than ever about the future of SIE. I want to thank Yoshida-san for has shown me so much trust and for being an incredibly sensitive and supportive leader.

Jim Ryan’s most notable roles at SIE and PlayStation have been the launch of the PlayStation 5 and his efforts to help block Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard. Since the launch of the PS5, Ryan has assured customers that Sony will continue to make units available as quickly as possible, despite inventory shortages and supply chain issues stemming from a global semiconductor shortage.

The situation has improved considerably, and Sony has sold more than 40 million PS5 consoles since its 2020 launch.