Nintendo: 60% Of Sales, Marketing To Depart Company

Following Wednesday's report that as much as 90 percent of Nintendo of America's sales and marketing staff were to leave the company rather than relocate to new New York or San Francisco offices, NOA president Reggie Fils-Aime has responded saying the number is closer to 60 percent. In early March, a report indicated Nintendo of America had plans to relocate its sales and marketing staff from the company’s Redmond offices to New York City or San Francisco. An anonymous online report on consumer magazine site Game Informer, said as much as 90 of the staffers had chosen not to relocate, also noting that PR director Beth Llewelyn, marketing VP Perrin Kaplan, and senior marketing VP George Harrison would also not be making the move. According to a statement sent to Gamasutra, Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime has verified that a smaller, though still substantial, 60 percent of sales and marketing staff have chosen not to make the move: "Virtually all of the employees affected by the relocation plan have now responded with their decisions, and approximately four of every ten have agreed to make the move to either New York or the Bay Area, in keeping with our original expectations. A transition task force of key executives has been formed to ensure the smoothest process possible, and continuous information and resources will be available to all employees. The rest of Nintendo's strong leadership talent will continue to drive our business objectives forward. It has always been the case that Nintendo employees are resilient and rise to any challenge, and there is no doubt in my mind that we will excel as we continue to tackle new challenges and business opportunities. Nintendo itself can not discuss the relocation status of any individual involved, but for those who will be departing the company, we have every expectation that they will succeed to the highest degree in their future endeavors. We will miss the talent, energy and experience from those who have chosen not to relocate. Our sales and marketing teams have been key components in returning Nintendo to its current position of market leadership." No explicit mention was made of the departure of Llewelyn, Kaplan or Harrison -- Gamasutra will update should any information surface regarding executive level departures.