This week, Nintendo of America announced that its president and chief operating officer Doug Bowser — yes, that’s really his name — will be retiring after over a decade at the company.
The president, with a very Nintendo-esque name, is retiring on Dec. 31.
“One of my earliest video game experiences was playing the arcade version of Donkey Kong,” Bowser said, per Business Wire. “Since that time, all things Nintendo have continued to be a passion for both me and my family. Leading Nintendo of America has been the honor of a lifetime, and I am proud of what our team has accomplished in both business results and the experiences we’ve created for consumers.”
Bowser will be succeeded by Devon Pritchard, who has been in the industry for almost 20 years, and most recently served as executive vice president of revenue marketing and consumer experience at Nintendo of America, per Variety.
She will be the first female president of a Nintendo branch in the company’s history, per Nintendo World Report. Pritchard will also be joining the Nintendo of America board of directors and will become an executive officer at the parent company Nintendo.
“Now, it’s time for the next generation of leadership and Devon’s track record speaks for itself. She is an exceptional leader, and her promotion is a testament to her strong performance and strategic contributions to the company’s growth,” Bowser said about Pritchard, per Variety.
Pritchard said, “I am humbled and excited to take on this new role. Doug has been a fantastic mentor, and I look forward to building on the incredible foundation he has helped establish,” per Variety.
During Bowser’s time leading the company, he helped expand it to a broad range of consumers and oversaw the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 in the Americas.