Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser is stepping down at the end of 2025

Doug Bowser, the current president and COO of Nintendo of America, has announced that he is stepping down from his role at the end of the year and will be succeeded by the company's first-ever female president.

The details:

• Bowser (not to be confused with Mario’s arch-nemesis) has confirmed he is leaving Nintendo on December 31, 2025, after over six years as the president of its US-based division following the departure of Reggie Fils-Aimé in 2019. "One of my earliest video game experiences was playing the arcade version of Donkey Kong," Bowser said in a statement. "Since that time, all things Nintendo have continued to be a passion for both me and my family. Leading Nintendo of America has been the honor of a lifetime, and I am proud of what our team has accomplished in both business results and the experiences we've created for consumers.”
• He will be succeeded by NOA’s current executive vice president of revenue, marketing, and consumer experience, Devon Pritchard, becoming the first female president in company history. Pritchard has been at Nintendo for 19 years, becoming a core member of NOA’s leadership team. “I am humbled and excited to take on this new role. Doug has been a fantastic mentor, and I look forward to building on the incredible foundation he has helped establish,” Pritchard said.
• With Bowser’s departure, NOA marketing general manager Satoru Shibata will now become the company’s CEO while retaining his current position as a board member at Nintendo’s Japanese branch and outside director of The Pokémon Company. Shibata previously served a similar role at Nintendo of Europe, being its president from 2000 to 2018.

More gaming news:

• Deus Ex Remastered is coming to PC and consoles in early 2026.
• Microsoft has announced that Forza Horizon 6 will be set in Japan.