Jack Tretton to say good-bye to Sony Computer Entertainment America after 19 years

Jack Tretton will be saying good-bye to the company he has worked for for 19 years. On March  31st, 2014, Tretton will be working for the last time at Sony Computer Entertainment America after years for being one of the persons responsible for the success of the PlayStation platform since the PlayStation 1. According to the press release, “this is a result of a mutual agreement between Mr. Tretton and SCEA not to renew their contractual relationship.”

“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.”

Shawn Layden, who currently works as Executive Vice President and COO of Sony Network Entertainment International, will take Tretton’s position, starting April 1st. During his 15 years at Sony, Layden has worked for SCE Worldwide Studios, and was one of the founding members of Sony Network Entertainment International.

Andrew House, President and Group CEO, Sony Computer Entertainment, said: “I’ve worked with Jack for nearly two decades and I want to personally thank him for his leadership and the considerable contributions he’s made to the SCEA business and PlayStation brand over the years. I wish him nothing but the best in his future endeavors. I also want to welcome Shawn to the Sony Computer Entertainment America team. I have the utmost confidence in Shawn’s leadership capabilities, and his deep knowledge of the gaming industry and commitment to gamers, will help keep PlayStation at the forefront of entertainment and innovative gameplay.”

“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,” said Layden. “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.”