Summary
With Jim Ryan having retired earlier this year, Sony Interactive Entertainment has announced who will succeed him as CEO ofPlayStation. Effective June 1, Hermen Hulst and Hideaki Nishino will both serve as CEOs, according to the company. The pair will report to Chairman Hiroki Totoki.
Hulst will serve as the CEO of studios, while Nishino will serve as the CEO of platforms. Their official titles are as follows:
With the moves, Totoki will shift to Chairman of SIE. In the leadup to Monday’s announcement, he had been serving as interim CEO in the wake of Ryan’s retirement. Totoki will also serve as President, COO and CFO of Sony.
Hulst And Nishino Tasked With “Maximizing Synergies At SIE”
In a press release, Totoki said the following: “Sony Interactive Entertainment is a dynamic and growing business that delivers incredible entertainment experiences through the connection of content and technology. These two leaders will have clear responsibilities and will manage strategic direction to ensure the focus remains on deepening engagement with existing PlayStation users and expanding experiences to new audiences,”
The goal for Hulst and Nishino is to collaborate together under Totoki to “strengthen each core business while maximizing synergies at SIE.” Hulst, in particular, was excited about the move, taking to social media to share the news.
Who Are Hulst and Nishino?
Prior to their promotions, Hulst and Nishino served as SVPs at PlayStation. Hulst served as the SVP and Head of PlayStation Studios. There he was tasked with developing content for PlayStation consoles as well as PC initiatives. Additionally, Hulst had a hand in PlayStation Productions, Sony’s long-term attempt at bringing IP to other mediums.
Hulst will continue his responsibilities of developing first-party content. “I am thrilled to lead the studio business group and continue to build on our success with PlayStation 5, while preparing for the future,” Hulst said in a statement. “… I look forward to continuing to push the boundaries of play and entertainment.”
Nishino was SVP, Platform Experience Group. According to Sony, he led “the team responsible for developing the experiences and technology within PlayStation products and services.” Experiences that Nishino helped lead include PSVR2 and PlayStation Network.
According to Sony, Nishino will continue in his role of technology and products, while also overseeing third-party publishers and developers. “We will continue to connect players and creators through world-class products, services, and technology,” he said in a statement.The news comes as rumours of a PlayStation Showcase continue to swirl.
