Sony appointed Hermen Hulst and Hideki Nishino as dual CEOs of PlayStation following Jim Ryan’s departure from the company this spring; They will start from June 1. Ryan announced he was leaving PlayStation last year, stepping in as interim CEO following the departure of Sony Group Corp. COO and CFO Hiroki Totoki in March. After that brief stint, PlayStation has been handling the CEO position with two individuals, each with a different focus.
Hulst has been appointed CEO of SIE’s Studio Business Group while Nishino has been appointed CEO of SIE’s Platform Business Group. Totoki, now interim CEO, will return to the role of COO and CFO of Sony Group Corporation and serve as President of SIE. Both Nishino and Hulst report to Totoki.
“Sony Interactive Entertainment is a dynamic and growing business that delivers incredible entertainment experiences through the connection of content and technology,” Totoki writes in a press release. “These two leaders will have clear responsibilities and maintain strategic direction to ensure deep engagement with existing PlayStation users and a focus on expanding experiences to new audiences.”
Nishino was senior vice president of PlayStation’s Platform Experience Group, “responsible for developing experiences and technology with PlayStation products and services,” including PlayStation 5, PlayStation VR2 and PlayStation Network. Sony says he will continue to be responsible for technology, products, services and platform experiences in his new CEO position. He will also oversee commercial operations, including third-party publisher and developer relations and sales and marketing of hardware, services and peripherals, the press release reads.
“We will continue to connect players through world-class products, services and technology,” writes Nishino. “At Sony Interactive Entertainment we’re always looking to grow our community even bigger. Innovation is in every area at Sony Interactive Entertainment. I’m honored to be appointed to such a key role alongside Hermen. By working more closely together, we’ll be in a position to build the most incredible experiences ever – expanding audiences now and into the future.” ”
Hulst was senior vice president and head of PlayStation Studios, responsible for “developing content across multiple devices, including PlayStation consoles and PCs, and bringing video game IP to new media such as film and television through PlayStation Productions.” As CEO, Hulst will be responsible for first-party content development, publishing and business operations.
“I’m thrilled to lead the Studio Business Group and continue to build on our success with PlayStation 5 as we prepare for the future,” he writes in a press release. “The video game industry is one of the largest entertainment industries in the world and is built on the marriage of content and technology, and I look forward to continuing to push the boundaries of gaming and entertainment.”
Totoki says separately Blog post Later this month, players will “learn more about the long-term vision for Sony Group and the key role that SIE plays in that vision,” hinting that the company may have some sort of event in May. He adds, “(Fiscal year 2024) marks the beginning of the mid-range planning period for the Sony Group, in which we set a course for sustainable growth.”
For more information about PlayStation, read on Game Informers Stellar Blade review, and then read on Game Informers Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Review. After that, check it out Game Informer Interview with former PlayStation boss Jack Tretton about acquisitions, Live Service games, E3 and more.
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