Unity Software program CEO John Riccitiello speaks onstage throughout TechCrunch Disrupt SF 2018 in San Francisco, Sept. 5, 2018.
Steve Jennings | TechCrunch | Getty Photographs
Unity CEO John Riccitiello is retiring from the sport software program firm after 9 years, following a controversial pricing change that annoyed quite a few builders.
Riccitiello, who’s been working Unity for 9 years, will even step down as chairman and is leaving the board, the corporate stated Monday.
James Whitehurst, former CEO of enterprise of Pink Hat, will turn out to be Unity’s interim CEO. Sequoia Capital’s Roelof Botha, the lead unbiased director of Unity’s Board, will turn out to be the corporate’s chairman.
Unity stated that it’s going to start looking for a everlasting CEO and that Riccitiello “will proceed to advise Unity to make sure a easy transition.”
In September, Unity introduced a pricing change that upset quite a few builders who depend on the corporate’s expertise to create video video games. A consortium of recreation builders protested the change, saying in a public letter that it “jeopardizes small and huge recreation builders alike” and was “made with none trade session.”
Unity finally modified its replace to enchantment to builders after acknowledging the discontent and apologizing “for the confusion and angst the runtime payment coverage” brought on.
“We’re listening, speaking to our staff members, group, prospects, and companions, and might be making modifications to the coverage,” the corporate stated on the time.
Unity went public in 2020 and was valued at $17 billion after its first day of buying and selling. The corporate now has a market cap of simply over $11 billion, after its inventory dropped alongside a broader tech decline in 2022.
“It has been a privilege to steer Unity for almost a decade and serve our workers, prospects, builders and companions, all of whom have been instrumental to the Firm’s development,” Riccitiello stated in an announcement. “I stay up for supporting Unity by way of this transition and following the Firm’s future success.”
Unity shares fell 1.5% to $29.70 on the market shut on Monday.
Watch: Unity Software program’s John Riccitello retiring as president and CEO.
