Shawn Layden will depart Sony Interactive Entertainment, as announced a few hours ago by the official PlayStation account on Twitter.

　　It is with great emotion that we announce that Worldwide Studios Chairman Shawn Layden will be departing SIE. His visionary leadership will be greatly missed. We wish him success in future endeavors and are deeply grateful for his years of service. Thanks for everything, Shawn!

　　Shawn Layden has been with Sony for many years, starting in 1987 as a Communications Assistant. In 1999 he became Vice President of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE), only to move to the position of SCEJ (Sony Computer Entertainment Japan) President in 2007. Three years later, he was among the founders of Sony Network Entertainment International (SNEI), working as COO and Executive VP.

　　In 2014 he replaced Jack Tretton as President and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) and consequently hosted PlayStation conferences at the annual Electronic Entertainment Expo up until 2018. Since last year, he had been focusing on Sony Interactive Entertainment Worldwide Studios as the Chairman.

　　In related Sony Interactive Entertainment news, another executive is also stepping down, Atsushi Morita, who held the position of Corporate Director as well as SIE Japan Asia President. As pointed out by The Wall Street Journal reporter Takashi Mochizuki, Morita-san is retiring due to age limits.