Nintendo Shifts Executive Team
Nintendo of America has promoted Reggie Fils-Aime to president and COO as part of a top-level executive shift on the verge of the company’s launch of its next-generation console, the Wii. The promotion was effective immediately.
Fils-Aime, the company’s former executive VP-sales and marketing, will lead day-to-day operations of Nintendo of America while he continues overseeing the company’s sales and marketing division.
Fils-Aime joined Nintendo in December 2003, overseeing sales and marketing efforts in the United States, Latin America and Canada. Before joining the company, he worked as senior VP-marketing at VH1. Fils-Aime also held top marketing positions with Guinness Import Co., Derby Cycle Corp., Pizza Hut, Panda Management Co. and Procter & Gamble.
Nintendo’s current president, Tatsumi Kimishima, has been promoted to chairman of the board and CEO. Kimishima will oversee the company’s management and continue to serve on the Nintendo of America and Nintendo Co., Ltd. boards. He joined Nintendo’s Kyoto, Japan headquarters in 2000, and two years later became its president. Before joining Nintendo, Kimishima worked more than 25 years at Sanwa Bank of Japan, in various management positions. The promotion was also effective immediately.
Finally, Nintendo promoted Mike Fukuda to executive VP-business development. In his new role, Fukuda, formerly senior VP-business development, will oversee corporate strategic planning and third-party publisher and licensing programs. In addition, he will continue to oversee product development geared more heavily to the North American market. Fukuda joined Nintendo in 1994 as director of planning. Prior to that, he worked for an international trading company.
The executive shift comes as Nintendo is gearing up to launch its latest next-gen console, the Wii, in the fourth quarter. The new gaming system is expected to cost under $250 in the U.S., news reports said. The company plans to ship 6 million units and some 17 million games to retailers worldwide between the fourth quarter of 2006 and March 2007, reports said.
“With the upcoming introduction of Wii, along with the strength of this new leadership team and strong executives already in place, Nintendo will continue to dramatically change the way consumers of all ages interact with their video game console on a daily basis,” said Satoru Iwata, president of Nintendo Co., Ltd., in a statement.
