It's the end of an era.
Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. has announced that SCEA President and CEO Jack Tretton will step down as of March 31, 2014. This is due to a mutual agreement between Tretton and SCEA not to renew their contractual relationship.
Tretton's replacement will be Shawn Layden, who is currently the Executive Vice President and COO of Sony Network Entertainment International. He will assume his new role as President and CEO of SCEA on April 1, 2014. As for Tretton, he played a critical role in launching all PlayStation platforms, dating back to the PS1 in 1995. Tretton has achieved several industry milestones, including 50 million PS2 units sold in North America, and the recent PS4 launch, which has been deemed highly successful. Said Tretton:
" Working at SCEA for the past 19 years has been the most rewarding experience of my career. Although I will deeply miss the talented team at SCEA and the passion demonstrated every day by our fans, I'm very excited about starting the next chapter of my career. I want to thank the employees, partners and customers for their tireless commitment to the PlayStation brand and, of course, to our fans who have pushed us to new heights of innovation and entertainment over the past two decades. I leave PlayStation in a position of considerable strength and the future will only get brighter for PlayStation Nation. "
As for Layden, he's a 15-year veteran of the PlayStation brand, and is one of the founding members of SNEI. He spent 8 years at SCE Worldwide Studios in London where he directed international software development, and now he's ready to take the next step. Said Layden:
"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. 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."
SCE President and Group CEO Andrew House added a personal thank you for Tretton, saying he worked with him for "nearly two decades," and he appreciates the "considerable contributions he's made to the SCEA business and PlayStation brand over the years." Yeah, we're all going to miss Jack, especially at E3. Hard to imagine a Sony press conference without Jack!