Sony Computer Entertainment America CEO Jack Tretton is stepping down from his esteemed position on March 31, at which time the current vice president, Shawn Layden, will become the CEO.
Tretton has a long history at SCEA, working there since its founding in 1995. Remarkably, Tretton has been involved in the launch of every single PlayStation platform, handhelds included. His name has become a permanent staple in relation to everything PlayStation-related. Regarding his decision to step down, Tretton made the following statement:
“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 of the current time, it is unknown why Tretton is leaving the company. His replacement, Shawn Layden, has previously worked for eight years at Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios in London. He oversaw much of the internal software development. He has expressed a great deal of interest in his soon-to-be CEO status, stating that it is “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.”
Regardless of Jack Tretton’s reasons, this is certainly a bittersweet day for PlayStation fans everywhere. His statement seems to imply that he is resigning under his own terms, eliminating the chance for in-house drama to be exposed. Due to this, it’s easier to look back on the good times he experienced throughout his career. We wish Tretton the best of luck in whatever he decides to do.
You can read Jack Tretton’s public PlayStation Blog post here.