Shawn Layden
Layden in 2018
Born (1961-06-25) June 25, 1961 (age 62)
Alma materUniversity of Notre Dame
TitleChairman of SIE Worldwide Studios
Term2014–2019
PredecessorJack Tretton for President and CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment America

Shawn Layden (born June 25, 1961) is an American businessman and was the chairman of SIE Worldwide Studios. Previously, he served as the president and CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment America (SIEA), executive vice president and COO of Sony Network Entertainment International (SNEI).[1]

Career

Layden joined Sony's corporate communications department in 1987 in Tokyo, Japan, and was the communications assistant for Sony co-founder Akio Morita for several years.[2] Layden managed international software development at Sony Computer Entertainment's London Studio until 1999, when he became vice president of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. After serving almost nine years he became president of Sony Computer Entertainment Japan in October 2007, a position which he held until March 2010.[3] In 2010, he was one of the founding members of Sony Network Entertainment International, serving as its executive vice president and COO.[4]

In April 2014, Layden succeeded Jack Tretton as president and CEO of SCEA after Tretton stepped down from the position the previous month following a mutual agreement between Tretton and SCEA not to renew Tretton's contract.[5] Following his appointment as President, Layden participated in Sony's conferences at E3 from 2014 to 2018.[6][7]

In March 2018, Layden's role shifted to focus solely on Worldwide Studios, to "provide platform-defining content that helps drive the growth of SIE."[8]

Sony announced on September 30, 2019 that Layden was stepping down from CEO of SIE Worldwide Studios.[9] Journalists at the time believed this may have been due to a result of an internal power struggle with SIE President Jim Ryan over the further restructuring and globalization of SIE,[10] However, in September 2021, Layden stated he retired due to exhaustion, believing the launch of the PlayStation 5 was a "good time to put the pin in my legacy."[11]

Layden announced in September 2022 that he had joined Tencent Games as a strategic advisor.[12]

Personal

Layden graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1983 with a Bachelor of Arts in American Studies. He is proficient in Japanese.[13]

References

  1. ^ "Shawn Layden". Playstation. Retrieved 2015-10-28.
  2. ^ "Shawn Layden". Playstation. Retrieved 2015-10-28.
  3. ^ "Shawn Layden". LinkedIn. Retrieved 2015-10-28.
  4. ^ "Jack Tretton To Step Down As President And CEO Of Sony Computer Entertainment America". PRNewswire. 2014-03-06. Retrieved 2015-07-01.
  5. ^ Makuch, Eddie (2014-03-06). "Veteran PlayStation boss Jack Tretton to step down". Gamespot. Retrieved 2015-07-01.
  6. ^ "How Sony's Blunder Revived Vib-Ribbon, a Long-Lost Classic". Wired. 2014-11-18. Retrieved 2015-07-01.
  7. ^ "What You Didn't Hear At E3: PlayStation's Shawn Layden On TV, VR, And Vita". Forbes. 2015-06-25. Retrieved 2015-07-01.
  8. ^ "Sony Interactive Entertainment Announces Organizational Transformation".
  9. ^ Campbell, Colin (September 30, 2019). "Breaking: PlayStation Worldwide Studios boss Shawn Layden is 'departing'". Polygon. Retrieved September 30, 2019.
  10. ^ "Shawn Layden departs Sony amid restructuring confusion and potential power struggle". GameDaily.biz. Retrieved 2019-10-01.
  11. ^ Schreier, Jason (September 3, 2021). "Former PlayStation Chief Muses on the Future of Gaming". Bloomberg News. Retrieved September 4, 2021.
  12. ^ Romano, Sal (September 19, 2022). "Shawn Layden joins Tencent Games as strategic advisor". Gematsu. Retrieved September 19, 2022.
  13. ^ "Shawn Layden". LinkedIn.
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