“If we reduce the number of employees for better short-term financial results, employee morale will decrease. I sincerely doubt employees who fear that they may be laid off will be able to develop software titles that could impress people around the world.”

Japanese businessman, video game programmer and producer

Satoru Iwata was a Japanese businessman, video game programmer, and producer. Born in 1959 and active until his death in 2015, he became the fourth president of Nintendo in 2002 and later served as chief executive officer of Nintendo of America from 2013. He is remembered for helping shape Nintendo’s direction during a period when the company was reaching beyond its traditional audience. Iwata played a major role in broadening the appeal of video games by emphasizing inventive, entertaining experiences rather than competing only through cutting-edge hardware. He was also the first Nintendo president not to be related to the company’s founder, Fusajiro Yamauchi.