Riccitiello’s departure "all comes down to accountability"

Outgoing EA CEO John Riccitiello has said that accountability” is the cause behind his reason to quit the publisher.

Not accountability for the SimCity fiasco, of course – which is already becoming the accepted narrative in some circles – but accountability for the company’s upcoming financial reports, which will see profit at the low end of or even below expectations.

This is a tough decision, but it all comes down to accountability,” Riccitiello wrote in his resignation letter. The progress EA has made on transitioning to digital games and services is something I’m extremely proud of.

However, it currently looks like we will come in at the low end of, or slightly below, the financial guidance we issued in January, and we have fallen short of the internal operating plan we set one year ago. EA’s shareholders and employees expect better and I am accountable for the miss.

I have been at the helm as EA’s CEO for six years and served as COO for nearly seven years starting in 1997. I know this company well, and I care deeply about its future success. I leave knowing EA is a great company, with an enormously talented group of leaders and the strongest slate of games in the industry.

I could not be more proud of our company’s games, from Battlefield and FIFA, to The Simpsons: Tapped Out and Real Racing 3. We have built many great franchises that will serve the company well in FY14 and beyond. In particular, I am confident that the investments we have made in games for next-generation consoles will put EA in a strong leadership position for many years ahead.

In offering my resignation, my goal is to allow the talented leaders at EA a clean start on FY14. I look forward to working with you in the coming weeks on an effective leadership transition. I’m extremely honored to have led this company and proud to have worked with all the great people at Electronic Arts.”

Riccitiello will receive his current salary for a further two years as part of the separation agreement.