Nintendo of America President retires

[01.08.02] » Minoru Arakawa succeeded by Tatsumi Kimishima.

   Nintendo of America Inc. announced that longtime President Minoru Arakawa has retired from his duties at the company. After 22 years Arakawa felt that now was the best time to step down while the video game industry remains strong and Nintendo's GameCube and Game Boy Advance continue to sell successfully. Arakawa has been replaced by Tatsumi Kimishima, former CFO of The Pokémon Company in Japan and Pokémon U.S.A., Inc.

   Arakawa's retirement marks the third executive departure at NOA since the beginning of the decade; former chairman Howard Lincoln left the company in early 2000 and Executive VP of Sales & Marketing Peter Main announced he will be stepping down effective February 1, to be replaced by current Nintendo of Canada president Peter MacDougall.

   The GIA would like to congratulate Mr. Arakawa on his more than 20 years of successful leadership and wish Mr. Kimishima luck in his new responsibilities.