Square Enix President Yosuke Matsuda To Be Replaced

Square Enix announced Yosuke Matsuda is stepping down as president and representative director of Square Enix Holdings. Yosuke Matsuda will be replaced by current company director Takashi Kiryu. 

The change in leadership is to be officially finalized pending approval of the 34rd Annual Shareholders’ Meeting this June and the meeting of the Board of Directors held afterwards. Square Enix revealed the reason for this impending change in company leadership in a new investors release.

“Under the rapid change of business environment surrounding the entertainment industry, the proposed change is intended to reshape the management team with the goal of adopting ever-evolving technological innovations and maximizing on the creativity of the company’s group in order to deliver even greater entertainment to its customers around the world,” Square Enix said.

Yosuke Matsuda first became president of Square Enix in April 2013 and became president of Square Enix Holdings just two months later. He is most remembered for his appearance as a secret boss in NieR: Automata and his constant push for blockchain technology/NFTs at Square Enix.

Here’s a biography of Takashi Kiryu, the new president and representative director, via Gematsu:

Takashi Kiryu

• Birthdate: June 20, 1975 (48 years old)
• Shares Owned: 1,471 shares
• Corporate History:
  • June 2020
    • General Manager Corporate Planning Division, Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.
  • April 2021
    • Chief Strategy Officer and Executive Officer, Corporate Strategy and Corporate Communications, Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd. (incumbent)
    • Executive Officer, Square Enix Co., Ltd. (incumbent)
  • June 2022
    • Chairman of the Board, Square Enix (China) Co., Ltd. (the Group’s operating company in China) (incumbent)
  • May 2022
    • Director, Square Enix Co., Ltd. (incumbent)
  • June 2022
    • Director, Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd. (incumbent)

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