Leadership change arrives just months after the launch of the Switch 2
Nintendo of America president and COO Doug Bowser will retire on December 31, 2025, after more than a decade in leadership roles, the company announced. He will be succeeded by Daevon Pritchard, a 19-year veteran of the video game industry and long-standing member of Nintendo of America’s leadership team. Pritchard will also join the board of directors and become a Nintendo Co. executive officer.
Bowser said, “Leading Nintendo of America has been the honor of a lifetime. Devon’s track record speaks for itself, and I’m confident she’ll guide the company to greater heights.”
Pritchard added, “I am humbled and excited to take on this new role. I look forward to building on the foundation Doug has helped establish while welcoming new players into the Nintendo family.”
Nintendo Co. managing executive officer Satoru Shibata will also join Nintendo of America as CEO, continuing his existing roles. The company expressed gratitude for Bowser’s contributions and confidence in Pritchard’s ability to maintain Nintendo’s mission of creating smiles. Devon, who will become the next president, has also made many contributions to Nintendo over the years. I am confident that, like Doug, Devon will continue to support Nintendo’s important mission of creating smiles.”
Editor’s Take
Doug Bowser’s time as president of Nintendo of America was steady but relatively quiet, with few moments where his direct influence was easy to pinpoint. Unlike Reggie Fils-Aimé’s very public presence, Bowser mostly kept behind the scenes, focusing on business results more than personality-driven leadership.
Devon Pritchard has been with Nintendo for years, but much like Bowser, her exact contributions aren’t widely known outside the company. With the Switch 2 only a few months into its life cycle, this leadership change doesn’t offer a clear picture yet of what will be different — or if fans will notice any change at all. The real test will be how Nintendo of America adapts under her watch as the new console generation matures.
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