Yamauchi steps down (eventually) making way for Iwata
Iron Satoru takes the reigns.
Satoru Iwata
The end of an era is looming at Nintendo of Japan, as the company announces that Hiroshi Yamauchi steps down from his position as president after more that 50 years at the helm.
Nintendo has confirmed that Satoru Iwata, the man who joined the company only as recently as June 2000 to head up Nintendo’s business planning, will take the presidency.
Yamauchi has seen Nintendo shift from being a small-time, Japan-only manufacturer of playing cards and novelty toys to its position today as a serious player in the world’s technology markets.
It is thought that Iwata will run a tight yet democratic ship and, in contrast to his predecessor, will take on board the thoughts and feelings of senior Nintendo staff. Yamauchi has come in for some hefty criticism, though never from within Nintendo, that his immoveable and opinionated leadership style could easily have brought the firm to its knees. Indeed, it is widely thought that had it not been for the Pokemon phenomenon of the late 90’s, Nintendo would simply no longer exist as it does today.
Satoru Iwata is the man accredited with pioneering the entire GameCube strategy now in place at Nintendo, from technical specification to personally battling out deals with component partners and manufacturers.
Make no mistake, this is good news for Nintendo. A forward thinking business strategist held in the highest regard, Satoru Iwata’s appointment will cement Nintendo’s current buoyant position in the marketplace and should ensure that the firm now makes decisions based around business sense, not personal grudges.
Nintendo has confirmed that Satoru Iwata, the man who joined the company only as recently as June 2000 to head up Nintendo’s business planning, will take the presidency.
Yamauchi has seen Nintendo shift from being a small-time, Japan-only manufacturer of playing cards and novelty toys to its position today as a serious player in the world’s technology markets.
It is thought that Iwata will run a tight yet democratic ship and, in contrast to his predecessor, will take on board the thoughts and feelings of senior Nintendo staff. Yamauchi has come in for some hefty criticism, though never from within Nintendo, that his immoveable and opinionated leadership style could easily have brought the firm to its knees. Indeed, it is widely thought that had it not been for the Pokemon phenomenon of the late 90’s, Nintendo would simply no longer exist as it does today.
Satoru Iwata is the man accredited with pioneering the entire GameCube strategy now in place at Nintendo, from technical specification to personally battling out deals with component partners and manufacturers.
Make no mistake, this is good news for Nintendo. A forward thinking business strategist held in the highest regard, Satoru Iwata’s appointment will cement Nintendo’s current buoyant position in the marketplace and should ensure that the firm now makes decisions based around business sense, not personal grudges.
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