Doug Bowser to Step Down as Nintendo of America President & COO
Nintendo has announced that Doug Bowser, President and Chief Operating Officer of Nintendo of America (NoA), will step down effective December 31, 2025. Leadership responsibilities will be split: Devon Pritchard, NoA’s Executive Vice President of Revenue, Marketing and Consumer Experience, will take over as President, while Satoru Shibata will serve as the company’s CEO.
“Leading Nintendo of America has been the honor of a lifetime, and I am proud of what our team has accomplished in both business results and the experiences we’ve created for consumers… Now, it’s time for the next generation of leadership and Devon’s track record speaks for itself,” Doug Bowser said in a statement.
Key points
- Departure effective date: December 31, 2025.
- Successors: Devon Pritchard (President), Satoru Shibata (CEO).
- Bowser joined Nintendo in 2015 and became NoA President in 2019, succeeding Reggie Fils-Aimé.
- Notable highlights during Bowser’s tenure: launch of the Switch 2, the global success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, and the expansion of Nintendo’s experiential business including a theme park.
- Controversies: Bowser’s tenure also saw reports concerning internal issues such as gender discrimination and discussions about how NoA handled those matters.
Implications
The appointment splits traditional President/CEO duties across two executives. Devon Pritchard’s background in revenue, marketing and consumer experience suggests continuity in commercial strategy and consumer engagement, while Satoru Shibata’s role as CEO could bring a more public-facing or corporate governance focus. Fans and analysts will be watching how this leadership change affects product direction, marketing tone and the company’s public presence.
Sources & Further reading
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