SEGA West boss Mike Hayes leaving this Summer

SEGA Europe and America head Mike Hayes leaving in Summer

SEGA Europe and America CEO Mike Hayes is leaving the firm this Summer to pursue interests outside the industry after eight years running the company's Western end, SEGA confirms today.

Already moving forward, Hayes is now a trustee of the Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre Trust in a role as non-executive director, however he retains an advisory role at SEGA.

The former CEO first joined the company in 2004 and helped see its growth from console manufacturer to multiplatform developer and publisher. During this transition period Hayes oversaw a tenfold growth in the company, as well as the acquisition of studios Sports Interactive and The Creative Assembly which are responsible for the firm's biggest PC successes in the Total War and Football Manager franchises.

The firm's president Naoya Tsurumi said in response to the news: "Mike has achieved a huge amount during his time at SEGA and we thank him for the amazing things he has accomplished. Mike is a great character and very passionate about the industry, he helped steer the extraordinary growth of SEGA and has built an exceptional team of professionals that will stand us in good stead for the future."

Current COO of SEGA Europe Jurgen Post is in line to take over following Hayes' departure.