Nintendo EAD general manager, Shigeru Miyamoto, has issued a statement regarding the passing of Nintendo President and CEO, Satoru Iwata, at the age of 55.
“I am surprised at this sudden news and overcome with sadness,” Mr. Miyamoto said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal. The 62 year-old has worked with Nintendo for over 30 years, creating such series as Donkey Kong, Pikmin, F-Zero, The Legend of Zelda and, Super Mario Bros.
He is now serving as acting Representative Director of Nintendo alongside the company’s integrated research division boss, Genyo Takeda. Prior to his newfound role as Nintendo’s joint-head, Mr. Miyamoto headed Nintendo’s Entertainment and Analysis Development branch (EAD) in which he helmed this year’s Star Fox Zero.
Though elections have yet to be held by Nintendo’s board for the company’s presidency, Mr. Miyamoto is assumed to be a leading candidate – as is Mr. Takeda. The 66 year-old engineer has served the company for over 40 years, as both one of the lead architects of the original Wii and as the creator of the Punch-Out! game series.
We will continue bringing you more updates on these new changes at Nintendo as they develop.
Via WSJ