Jon Murphy leaves Konami after 16 years

Konami’s PES team leader in the UK Jon Murphy has left the publisher.

The industry stalwart leaves after 16 years during which he stewarded the PES brand through both the glory years and the long struggle to maintain legitimacy against rival FIFA.

After 16 years at Konami I’ve decided to seek new challenges,” he tweeted. Amazing messages from all. Genuinely surprised/touched. Thank you. Really interested in demo feedback, but for now off to walk dog.”

Murphy has for a long time been the public corporate face of the PES series in the UK. As the series struggled with the industry’s transition to next-gen it was Murphy who kept fighting the war, pledging a sea change” for the brand in 2009 and a transformation” in 2010.

He wasn’t afraid of sticking it to his rival, either, saying in 2011 that the battle between the pair had helped evolve the genre. In 2012 Murphy struck out at EA for failing to sufficiently innovate in its series.

Murphy’s departure follows that of Castlevania veteran Dave Cox last month, who left the company to explore new opportunities”.

After 16 years at Konami I've decided to seek new challenges. Thanks all and please continue to support @Adam_Bhatti

— Jon Murphy (@JonMurphy666) September 15, 2014

Amazing messages from all. Genuinely surprised/touched. Thank you. Really interested in demo feedback, but for now off to walk dog

— Jon Murphy (@JonMurphy666) September 16, 2014