Satoru Iwata named Nintendo of America CEO

As part of Nintendo's plans to boost profits in the current fiscal year, the company today announced that its global president Satoru Iwata will take up an additional role as CEO of Nintendo of America. The current CEO, Tatsumi Kimishima, has been promoted to managing director of Nintendo Co., and will soon transfer from the NOA headquarters in Redmond, Washington, to the NCL headquarters in Kyoto, Japan. Kimishima's new position will see him assuming the role of general manager in both the company's Corporate Analysis and Administration, and General Affairs divisions. As a result, Yoshihiro Mori and Masaharu Matsumoto -- the two executives who held these respective positions previously -- will retire this summer. Kimishima previously joined Nintendo Japan back in 2000, and was made president of Pokemon USA in 2001. He was named CEO of Nintendo of America back in 2006. With Iwata as NOA CEO, current COO and president Reggie Fils-Aime will report to the Nintendo exec veteran. This personnel shift comes as part of Nintendo's unified global strategy. The company says it will allow for a more streamlined business, potentially enhancing its organization in the current competitive market.