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Sega CEO Leaving Company

by Matthew Kato on April 30, 2012 at 09:06 AM

6,051 Views

Sega has announced that western CEO Mike Hayes is leaving the company this summer and taking an advisory role with Sega and other companies.

Current COO Jurgen Post will take over for Hayes as CEO in both Europe and America.

Said Naoya Tsurumi, Sega president and COO of Hayes, "Mike has achieved a huge amount during his time at Sega and we thank him for the amazing things he has accomplished. Mike is a great character and very passionate about the industry; he helped steer the extraordinary growth of Sega and has built an exceptional team of professionals that will stand us in good stead for the future."

Despite the fact that Hayes is credited with bringing over Total War developer The Creative Assembly and moving the company toward digital distribution, we speculate whether Sega's recent layoffs and project cancellations were a factor in the situation.

[via GamesIndustry International. Photo of Mike Hayes: JesseAngelo.com]

Email the author Matthew Kato, or follow on Twitter, and Game Informer.

Filed under: News, Sega, Mike Hayes

Comments

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by Zach Burnside Monday, April 30, 2012 at 09:21 AM

I would have also quit. I hate Sonic.
by Applesteak Monday, April 30, 2012 at 09:25 AM

Tips for new CEO: Bayonetta 2
by shooterboy23 Monday, April 30, 2012 at 09:33 AM

Throw all of your investments into a Bayonetta 2 and Sega Dreamcast 2 and you'll be fine guys. Can't achieve anything if you're not willing to take big risk.
by GoldvsSilver Monday, April 30, 2012 at 09:44 AM

Well, hopefully he finds new opportunities.
by OldManRiverPhoenix Monday, April 30, 2012 at 09:54 AM

I wonder on the last day of his job just before he's walking out of the building theres two rows of people on each side and at the same time they all yell SEGA!, and then he leaves through the last double doors and rides off into the sunset.
by Warrior Monday, April 30, 2012 at 09:58 AM

Maybe he quit cuz of all the repitive Sonic games? Must I bring up how bad Sonic Generations was? Oh well... I wish him the best in his career.
by GSWarriorsFan Monday, April 30, 2012 at 10:04 AM

If he was forced out of his job that sucks. Why couldn't it be Sonic's friends getting the axe?
by doomsday1155 Monday, April 30, 2012 at 10:19 AM

Sorry to hear that.
by Tim Gruver Monday, April 30, 2012 at 10:56 AM

Ah, leaving the ship before it sinks. . .
by Meta77 Monday, April 30, 2012 at 10:58 AM

How old is he
by Tommy H. Monday, April 30, 2012 at 11:04 AM

Is he leaving because he failed to convince Sega to bring over Valkyria Chronicles 3? If he is, I hope the next in line does better :P
by ynoT0312Taz Monday, April 30, 2012 at 11:11 AM

i don't care! ever since they made Sonic in to a *** "wearhog" ive lost all respect for sega
by GL4DOS Monday, April 30, 2012 at 11:15 AM

Sega needs to die, hand Sonic off to Ubisoft or something and die!!!!!!!!!
by ThisFreakinGuy Monday, April 30, 2012 at 11:22 AM

The only thing I still like about SEGA: The Creative Assembly.
by Jonny5tyle Monday, April 30, 2012 at 11:49 AM

SEGA: The Creative Assembly - Would you please make Rome 2 already!! I am still playing Rome Total War. Great game...and yes I own all other total war games, but Rome is the best.
by $H@i< Monday, April 30, 2012 at 12:23 PM

Time for revolution SEGA...
by Epicopenworld Monday, April 30, 2012 at 12:32 PM

I don't think Sega will last more than a year...same with THQ.
by Iago407 Monday, April 30, 2012 at 01:34 PM

Sega has such an amazing library of games, yet none of them ever seem to see the light of day except for Sonic, Virtua Fighter and a few rehashes here and there. I'd list the games that I'd love to see sequels for, but it'd probably take up half the page. I'd just settle on a few: Skies of Arcadia, Panzer Dragoon Saga, Golden Axe (not that Beast Rider garbage), Eternal Champions and Jet Grind Radio. That'd be my top 5. I wonder what other people's top 5 Sega sequels would be...