Satoru Iwata To Become Nintendo of America CEO

A few management changes are happening at Nintendo. Tatsumi Kimishima, the current chairman and CEO of Nintendo of America as well as one of the directors of Nintendo Co., Ltd., is being promoted to Nintendo’s managing director, pending shareholder approval.

Kimishima will be transferred from Nintendo of America in Redmond, Washington to Nintendo Co., Ltd. headquarters in Kyoto. In his new position, Kimishima will assume the roles of general manager of Corporate Analysis and Administration, and general manager of the General Affairs Division.

Both of the above positions are currently held by Yoshihiro Mori and Masaharu Matsumoto respectively, both of whom are retiring. Kimishima will assume his new duties in Kyoto later this Summer.

Prior to his current position at Nintendo of America, Kimishima was named president of Pokémon USA in 2001. He then became president of NOA in 2002. Several of his current responsibilities, including the CEO title, will be assumed by Nintendo’s global president, Satoru Iwata. Meanwhile, Reggie Fils-Aime will continue in his role as president and COO of NOA, reporting to Iwata.

The move is meant to “support the company’s unified global strategy, allow streamlined decision making and enhance Nintendo’s organizational agility in the current competitive environment.”

Pictured above: Tatsumi Kimishima. Image courtesy Nintendo.