Nintendo of America president and chief operating officer Doug Bowser will retire Dec. 31 after more than a decade at the company.
He will be succeeded by Devon Pritchard, a nearly a 20-year veteran of the video game industry and long-time Nintendo exec. Most recently, Pritchard served as executive vice president of revenue, marketing and consumer experience at Nintendo of America, overseeing many aspects of the Switch 2 launch this spring. Pritchard will also join the Nintendo of America board of directors and become an executive officer at Japan-based parent company Nintendo.
Additionally, Satoru Shibata will join Nintendo of America as CEO, while continuing his roles as managing executive officer and corporate director and member of the board at Nintendo.
“One of my earliest video game experiences was playing the arcade version of Donkey Kong,” Bowser said. “Since that time, all things Nintendo have continued to be a passion for both me and my family. 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.”
He continued: “Now, it’s time for the next generation of leadership and Devon’s track record speaks for itself. She is an exceptional leader, and her promotion is a testament to her strong performance and strategic contributions to the company’s growth. I have full confidence that she will guide the company to even greater heights.”
Bowser’s boss, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa, said in a separate statement: “During his tenure, Doug made numerous contributions to bring smiles to the faces of people connected to Nintendo. I would like to express my gratitude for his strong efforts. Devon, who will become the next president, has also made many contributions to Nintendo over the years. I am confident that, like Doug, Devon will continue to support Nintendo’s important mission of creating smiles.”
“I am humbled and excited to take on this new role,” Pritchard said. “Doug has been a fantastic mentor, and I look forward to building on the incredible foundation he has helped establish. With characters and worlds that offer something for everyone, my focus will be continuing to build on Nintendo’s legacy of surprising and delighting our longtime fans, while at the same time welcoming new players into the Nintendo family.”