Pokémon USA president steps down

December 12, 2007 by Gary Rusak

Pokémon USA president Akira Chiba is leaving the building at the end of the year.

Chiba joined the company in 2002 to help establish its New York City offices and saw the brand through Pokémon’s relaunch in late 2006/early 07. He’s decided it’s time to pursue other opportunities. Kenji Okubo, EVP and head of Pokémon USA’s Seattle office, is stepping into the vacated post.

Okubo will manage the brand’s operations in New York, Seattle and London and oversee all initiatives outside of Japan such as the Pokémon trading card game, the long-running animated series, North American and European licensing efforts and the recently launched Pokémon trading figure game.