According to a Tweet from the official PlayStation Twitter account, Shawn Layden is set to part ways with Sony Interactive Entertainment after 32 years with the company.
The company gave no reason for Layden’s departure, but wished him “success in future endeavours” and thanked him for all his years of service.
It is with great emotion that we announce that Worldwide Studios Chairman Shawn Layden will be departing SIE. His visionary leadership will be greatly missed. We wish him success in future endeavors and are deeply grateful for his years of service. Thanks for everything, Shawn!
— PlayStation (@PlayStation) September 30, 2019
Just in case you can’t read the embedded Tweet, a plain text version of the company’s statement is available below:
It is with great emotion that we announce that Worldwide Studios Chairman Shawn Layden will be departing SIE. His visionary leadership will be greatly missed. We wish him success in future endeavors and are deeply grateful for his years of service. Thanks for everything, Shawn!
Layden had been with Sony since 1987, when he joined Sony’s corporate communications department in Tokyo, Japan. He became Vice President of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe in 1999 before becoming President of Sony Computer Entertainment Japan in October 2007.
In 2010, Layden was one of the founding members of Sony Network Entertainment International. In April 2014, Layden succeeded Jack Tretton as President and CEO of SCEA, a role he kept until early 2018, when he instead became CEO of SIE Worldwide Studios.
There currently isn’t any information as to who will succeed Layden. We here at MSPU wish Layden the best of luck in all of his future endeavours and thank him for being the face of SIE for the past several years.