Jim Ryan, the Sony Executive Who Once Questioned Backward Compatibility, Is PlayStation's New President

Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE), which oversees the whole PlayStation business, has announced deputy president Jim Ryan as its new president and CEO. Ryan will replace current SIE president and CEO John Kodera on April 1, 2019. Kodera will now be serving as deputy SIE president overseeing network and user experience.

Ryan also served as president of SIE Europe and SIE's head of Global Sales and Marketing. There he helped launch both the PlayStation 4 Pro and PlayStation VR, two successful additions to the PlayStation lineup. Kodera, who took over for SIE President Andrew House in 2017, will spearhead advancements to the PlayStation Network.

Ryan also once questioned the viability of backward compatibility. In an interview with Time, Ryan said that at a Gran Turismo event, "they had PS1, PS2, PS3, and PS4 games, and the PS1 and the PS2 games, they looked ancient, like why would anybody play this?"

Backward compatibility remains an incredibly popular feature among gamers, and a feature that the Xbox One has been able to take advantage of. According to a recent trademark listing, Sony could be looking at backward compatibility for the PS5 or beyond.

Ryan will be serving under Sony Corporation CEO and President Kenichiro Yoshida. In a statement Ryan says, "I've seen the PlayStation business grow and change massively since the very early days, and I hope to be able to put that experience to good use in reinforcing the foundations of the Game & Network Service business, and in evolving the entertainment that PlayStation offers to its engaged and passionate community."

Header courtesy of PlayStation Europe, Flickr.