Yosuke Matsuda to Leave Square Enix Presidency After a Decade

After a ten-year tenure, Yosuke Matsuda will relinquish his position as president and representative director of Square Enix. According to a statement released to investors, Matsuda's departure is set to occur later this year, pending approval. He will be succeeded by Takashi Kiryu, who has been with the company since June 2020, serving as general manager for the corporate planning division at Square Enix Holdings and currently holding the position of director of the holdings company. The leadership change is aimed at restructuring the management team in response to the rapidly evolving business landscape. The proposed changes will be subject to approval at the upcoming Annual Shareholder Meetings, scheduled for May and June, followed by a meeting of the Board of Directors. During his time at the helm, Matsuda has navigated the company through significant events, including a major restructuring in 2013, the establishment of new studios worldwide, and the sale of Western studios to Embracer Group last year. He has also been a key proponent of the company's foray into blockchain technology, emphasizing the need for Square Enix to adapt and become a more unified entity, which he referred to as 'One Square Enix' in his 2023 New Year's letter.