Sony has announced that Jim Ryan’s position as CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment will be taken up jointly by Hermen Hulst and Hideaki Nishino, according to GamesIndustry.biz. The role is being split into two, with Hulst becoming the CEO of the Studio Business Group, while Nishino becomes the CEO of the Platform Business Group.
The Studio Business Group is a new division in Sony Interactive Entertainment, and includes first-party PlayStation studio. The group will also have development of various PlayStation IP into other mediums, including TV and film adaptations, as part of its responsibilities. Hulst has a history in game development, and was one of the co-founders of Guerrilla Games—the studio behind the Killzone and Horizon franchises.
The Platform Business Group, on the other hand, focuses more on the hardware side of things. Nishino will head up the part of the business responsible for, among other things, technology, console hardware, PlayStation Network, and third-party relations. Nishino was previously a senior vice president of Platform Experiences.
“I am thrilled to lead the studio business group and continue to build on our success with PlayStation 5, while preparing for the future,” said Hulst in a statement. “The video game industry is one of the largest entertainment industries in the world and has been built on the marriage of content and technology, and I look forward to continuing to push the boundaries of play and entertainment.”
“We will continue to connect players and creators through world-class products, services, and technology,” said Nishino. “We always strive to grow our community even bigger with innovation in every area at Sony Interactive Entertainment.”
“I am honored to be appointed such an important role alongside Hermen. By working more closely together, we will be positioned to build incredible experiences for an ever-expanding audience now and in the future.”