Sony has announced that PlayStation boss Jim Ryan will be retiring in March 2024, having spent nearly thirty years with the company. Ryan was named President and CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) in February 2019 and oversaw the launch of the PS5.

“Sony Group Corporation and Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) today announced that SIE President and CEO Jim Ryan has made the decision to retire in March 2024 after almost thirty years with the PlayStation business.” A statement from Sony read. Ryan will remain in his position until April 1 2024, Sony COO Hiroki Totoki will then assume the role of interim CEO until Ryan’s successor is appointed.

“Mr. Totoki will work closely with Sony Group Corporation Chairman and CEO Kenichiro Yoshida and the management team of SIE to help define the next chapter of PlayStation’s future, including the succession of the SIE CEO role.” The statement read.

In his own statement, Jim Ryan has cited a difficult work/life balance as one of the reasons for his retirement.

“After 30 years, I have made the decision to retire from SIE in March 2024.” Ryan said.

“I’ve relished the opportunity to have a job I love in a very special company, working with great people and incredible partners. But I’ve found it increasingly difficult to reconcile living in Europe and working in North America.

“I will leave having been privileged to work on products that have touched millions of lives across the world; PlayStation will always be part of my life, and I feel more optimistic than ever about the future of SIE. I want to thank Yoshida-san for placing so much trust in me and being an incredibly sensitive and supportive leader.”

Interim CEO Hiroki Totoki said: “I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Jim Ryan for his outstanding achievements and contributions over his 30-year career at Sony, including the great success of launching the PlayStation 5.

“The PlayStation business managed by SIE is an essential part of Sony Group’s entire business portfolio. I will work with Jim and the senior management team closely to ensure our continued success and further growth.

“I am also looking forward to creating the exciting future of PlayStation and the game industry together with everyone at SIE and its business partners.”

Sony group CEO Kenchiro Yoshida added: “Jim Ryan has been an inspirational leader throughout his entire period with us, but never more so than in overseeing the launch of PlayStation 5 in the midst of the global COVID pandemic. That extraordinary achievement made by the entire SIE team has been steadily built on and PlayStation 5 is on track to become SIE’s most successful console yet.

“I’m immensely grateful to Jim for all his achievements.”

Kenchiro continued: “Respecting Jim’s decision to finish his long career at Sony leaves me with an important decision regarding his succession given the significance of the Game & Network Services business. We have discussed intensively and have determined the new management structure.

“We aim to achieve Sony Group’s further evolution and growth through bringing even greater success to the Game & Network Services Business.”