Konami names new CEO in management reshuffle

Konami Gaming has appointed Steve Sutherland as president and chief executive, while also confirming a host of other changes to its senior management team.

Sutherland, who has been with the company since 2000, will replace Satoshi Sakamoto in the role.

Sakamoto will now transition to the position of senior executive director at parent company Konami Holdings Corporation.

“From our company’s first game installation and systems implementation, Konami has worked diligently and responsibly to establish itself as one of the top four industry suppliers,” Sutherland said.

“Our success to date was created through the personal commitment, contribution, and longstanding tenure of its leadership team and employees who strive on a daily basis to demonstrate an unwavering commitment to fulfilling customer expectations.”

In addition, Konami has appointed Thomas Jingoli as executive vice-president and chief commercial officer, while Kazuya Kozuki will now take on the role of executive vice-president and chief financial officer.

Meanwhile, Thomas Soukup is to become senior vice-president and chief systems product officer, with Yuji Taniguchi to move into the role of senior vice-president and chief games product and strategy officer.

“These appointments reflect a continued strengthening of our leadership team as we pursue the achievement of key strategic and operational objectives across the domestic and international markets we serve,” Sutherland added.

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