DeNA loses its all-conquering founder

Tomoko Namba has retired from her role at DeNA, the company she founded and grew into a mobile games titan.

She will be replaced by Isao Moriyasu, the firm’s current chief operating officer.

Namba steps down from the role as president and CEO due to a family health issue, the company said, though will remain “a key member of the board of directors and as an advisor”.

Under Namba’s leadership, DeNA has grown from a humble start-up to a sector-conquering mobile giant.

Its sales and profits have steadily increased for seven consecutive fiscal years since listing on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in February 2005, the company said.

In October last year, the Tokyo-based firm spent around $400 million to acquire mobile games studio Ngmoco.

Namba spoke of her successor Moriyasu in high regard, claiming he “brings both technical insight and business strategy” to the CEO role.

“He’s an accomplished man of action and the best candidate to steer DeNA going forward. I strongly believe he will be able to act quickly and decisively in this rapidly changing industry, to grow our billion-dollar company while making it truly global.”