Unity has announced that John Riccitiello is leaving the company.
The current CEO, president and member of the board of directors leaves his position effective immediately, and will be replaced on an interim basis by James M. Whitehurst. Riccitiello, however, will continue as an advisor to Unity with the aim of “ensuring a smooth transition.”
In a brief statement, Riccitiello explained that “it has been a privilege to lead Unity for almost a decade and serve our employees, consumers, developers and partners, all of whom have been instrumental in the company’s growth.”
The departure of the controversial manager comes a few weeks after the company has been immersed in a bitter controversy over changes to its monetization and royalty policies. Following massive outrage from developers using the popular engine, Unity backtracked and revised its terms.
Riccitiello became CEO of Unity Technologies at the end of 2014, after having served since November 2013 as a consultant to the board of directors. He was previously known for having been president of Electronic Arts and founder of Elevation Partners.
