Jack Tretton Steps Down as SCEA CEO


This has taken everyone off guard. Jac Tretton, CEO and President of Sony Computer Entertainment of America has announced via a press release that he is stepping down from his roles in the company.

According to the PR, the decision is the result of a ‘mutual agreement’ between Sony and Tretton. He’ll be leaving the company on March 31st.

Jack Tretton is a name no one can ignore if they have been following the birth of PlayStation in the west. He was the man behind bringing it to the western parts of the world as well as for the success that followed. Under his leadership, Sony sold more than 50 million PS2s in North America and over 1 million PS4 units within 24 hours of being launched in the region.

Working at SCEA for the past 19 years has been the most rewarding experience of my career,” said Tretton. “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.

Sony has also announced who will be filling up in his boots once he hangs them up. Shawn Layden, COO of Sony Network Entertainment has been revealed as being the man to do so. He has been with the company for 15 years. He’s worked in various departments within the company including being one of the founders of SNEI, serving as president of Sony Computer Entertainment Japan and working with SCE Worldwide Studios London where he lead international software development.

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,” Layden said in Sony’s announcement about the position change. “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.

No further information has been shared by either of the parties as to why he has made this decision to depart from a company he worked so hard to build. We’ll update you as more details emerge. In the meantime, share with us your thoughts below.