Reggie Fils-Aime Announces Retirement

[Moonface]

After 15 years at Nintendo of America, 13 of which were spent as its President and COO, Reggie Fils-Aime has announced he will be retiring, effective on April 15th. Doug Bowser, NOA’s current Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, will succeed Reggie as President of Nintendo of America.

I really appreciate everything Reggie has done for Nintendo. Inside and outside our company, Reggie is known as an exceptional leader. We are grateful that he is leaving the business in good shape with strong momentum. While we will miss him and we wish him the very best in his retirement, we are also pleased to have such an able successor ready to step into that role. Doug Bowser and the rest of the team will ensure a seamless transition and continued momentum for Nintendo.

Nintendo owns a part of my heart forever. It’s a part that is filled with gratitude – for the incredibly talented people I’ve worked with, for the opportunity to represent such a wonderful brand, and most of all, to feel like a member of the world’s most positive and enduring gamer community. As I look forward to departing in both good health and good humor, this is not ‘game over’ for me, but instead ‘leveling up’ to more time with my wife, family and friends.

It has been my great fortune to work with and be mentored by Reggie for four years at Nintendo of America. And rest assured, we will continue to build on his work to evolve and expand our brand, furthering Nintendo’s global mission of creating smiles. There are millions more of those to come.

[Dragon Lord]

I find it ironic that he's being replaced by a guy named Bowser.

In fact, it's a little too ironic...

[Moonface]

I'm hoping Nintendo focus on the fact the guy is called Bowser and have some fun with it. I expect they will since Reggie was always doing fun things, and one of the first images of Bowser's office was of Mario and Luigi tied up with a Gamecube controller wire. XD

It'll feel weird not seeing Reggie on any Nintendo stuff once he leaves though. He's been with NoA so long that he is the only person I associate with that branch of the company.

[Mr EliteL]

Unfortunate news, if only he could've hung around and made it to the 2020's. Although then that would be an awkward 16 years than 15. Keep it in 10's or 5's some way or another.

Nah, Reggie's had a good run and has been a great face for Nintendo. Good presenting skills and humour when it came to Directs and past conferences. Going to be so weird not seeing him anymore. I just hope we'll get one last presentation or at least a final video with him featured before April 15th (or on the day). Then handing over the mantle to non other than....Bowser?! Oh wait, not that one.

For Doug Bowser, as he's been mentored by Reggie he should be fine coming in. I hope. I do too would like to see them play with what his surname happens to be. Outside of that and into gaming purposes, perhaps we could see a possible video game having the Bowser we're familiar with in a playable role again that isn't a party, sport and Smash game down the line?

[Moonface]

I saw an image of Bowser constructing a Labo kit with a Bowser Jr. plush on the seat next to him at the table he was using so I think it's a certainty Nintendo are going to roll with using his name for gags. I'm hoping they do something silly to pass the torch when April 15th rolls around rather than it just coming and going with nothing but the announcement we already got. A final hurrah would be better in my opinion than just quietly switching everything over between now and then.

I could also see Reggie being a guest for Nintendo from time to time too. Just because he retired doesn't mean he'll just disappear from the scene entirely. He could, but I just don't see it given the guy is basically a celebrity and a household name in gaming.