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John Riccitiello

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John Riccitiello
Riccitiello in 2018
Born1957 or 1958 (age 66–67)[1]
Erie, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of California, Berkeley
Occupationformer Chief executive officer Co-owner of Gratz Pilates
Years active1993–2023
Employer(s)Wilson Sporting Goods (1993–1995)
Sara Lee Bakery Worldwide (1996–1997)
Electronic Arts (1997–2004)
Elevation Partners (2004–2007)
Electronic Arts (2007–2014)
Unity Technologies (2014–2023)
Gratz Pilates (2024-)
Board member of
Children2

John Riccitiello (/rɪkɪˈtɛloʊ/) is an American business executive. Previously, he was chief executive officer, chief operating officer and president of Unity Technologies, Electronic Arts, and co-founded private equity firm Elevation Partners in 2004. Riccitiello has sat on several company boards, including those of the Entertainment Software Association, the Entertainment Software Rating Board, the Haas School of Business and the USC School of Cinematic Arts.

Early life and education

John Riccitiello was born in Erie, Pennsylvania.[2] He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California, Berkeley's Haas School of Business in 1981.[3]

Career

Early in his career, Riccitiello worked at Clorox and PepsiCo,[4] and was managing director of the Häagen-Dazs division of Grand Metropolitan,[1][5] during which time he spearheaded an advertising campaign which successfully broke Häagen-Dazs into the European market.[6] He was named president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Wilson Sporting Goods, as well as chairman of MacGregor Golf, in late 1993.[1] He then was president and CEO of Sara Lee Corporation's Sara Lee Bakery Worldwide unit,[5][7] from March 1996 to September 1997.[8][9][10]

Riccitiello joined video game company Electronic Arts (EA) in October 1997,[7] initially as president and chief operating officer until 2004.[4][11] He left the company to co-found and be a partner of Elevation Partners, a private equity firm specializing in entertainment and media businesses,[12] along with Roger McNamee and Bono.[4][11] Riccitiello returned to EA as CEO from February 2007 to March 2013,[11][13][14] when the board of directors accepted his resignation because of the company's financial performance.[4][15][16] Riccitiello's time as CEO was mired with controversy for EA, with EA being voted the worst company in America two years in a row by Consumerist.[17] EA's reputation suffered due to the increased adoption of unpopular business practices like microtransactions and always-online DRM causing problems with a number of releases, such as SimCity, as well as a lawsuit around allegedly monopolistic behaviour for their football and basketball games.[18][19] Riccitiello was a strong proponent of including these types of mechanics to increase profitability, once suggesting in a 2011 stockholders meeting adding microtransactions to Battlefield that would require paying "a dollar to reload," suggesting that "it's a great model" and a "substantially better future for the industry."[20][21] In 2025, former CEO of industry rival Activision Bobby Kotick said "[Activision] would have paid for Riccitiello to stay a CEO forever" because they "thought he was the worst CEO in games."[22]

Following EA, Riccitello worked as an advisor to startup companies and became an early investor in Oculus VR.[23][24]

Riccitiello became the CEO of Unity Technologies in late 2014, having previously consulted for and joined the technology company's board in November 2013.[11][23][25] During his tenure, he has overseen two fundraising rounds, raising $181 million in 2016 and $400 million in 2017.[26] He has also worked to get Unity's game engine into Oculus's software development kit.[27] Riccitiello led efforts to develop the use of Unity's software tools beyond gaming, in industries such as automotive design, construction, and filmmaking.[28][29] In September 2023, Unity announced a royalty per-installation of games developed using the platform which faced wide backlash from the gaming and development communities, as the system would be extremely expensive for free, indie, or demo games.[30] Many developers that used Unity announced that they would switch to other game engines as a result of this change.[31][32] This announcement came in stark contrast to earlier statements from Riccitiello, who said in a 2015 interview that "there's no royalties, no fucking around" for the release of Unity 5.[33] Within days of the announcement, Unity announced they would soften the royalty program, abandoning it entirely within a year.[34][35] On October 9, 2023, Unity announced that Riccitiello would be leaving the company amid the controversy, appointing Jim Whitehurst as interim CEO and president.[36][37][38] By May 2024, stock prices had declined 60% over the year, and the usage of Unity had declined among developers at several game jams.[39][40]

In June 2024, Riccitiello became co-owner of Gratz Pilates, a Philadelphia based manufacturer of Pilates equipment, alongside his wife and former Unity Chief People Officer Elizabeth Osterman.[41][42][43]

Boards

Riccitiello chaired the Entertainment Software Association and Entertainment Software Rating Board during the early 2010s.[2][44][45] He has been on the Haas School of Business' board,[46] as well as the Board of Councilors for the University of Southern California's USC School of Cinematic Arts.[47][48]

Recognition

Riccitiello was ranked number 39 on Sports Illustrated's 2013 list of the "50 Most Powerful People in Sports".[49][50]

Litigation

On 5 June 2019,[51] Anne Evans, formerly vice-president in human resources for Unity Technologies, filed a sexual harassment and wrongful termination lawsuit against the company, stating that Riccitiello sexually harassed her.[52] Unity Technologies responded that Evans' allegations were false and that she had been terminated due to misconduct and lapse in judgment.[53] Riccitiello was engaged to the Chief People Officer of Unity when the lawsuit was filed.[42]

On September 10, 2019, the Superior Court of California issued a court order granting Unity’s motion to compel arbitration and stay all proceedings.[51]

Personal life

Riccitiello has two daughters,[2] a step-son, a step-daughter and has lived in various cities for work, including the U.S. cities of Birmingham, Alabama, Chicago, New York City, and San Francisco, as well as Düsseldorf, London, Nicosia, and Paris.[47] He has been described as "politically active",[2] and donated to Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign.[47][54] Riccitiello delivered a commencement speech at his alma mater in 2011.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Ice cream to sports: Wilson Sporting Goods Co. said John..." Chicago Tribune. Tronc. September 24, 1993. OCLC 60639020. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved June 15, 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d Wolverton, Troy (December 3, 2010). "Mercury News interview: John Riccitiello, CEO Electronic Arts". The Mercury News. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
  3. ^ "Feature Stories: John Riccitiello, BS 81". Haas School of Business (University of California, Berkeley). Archived from the original on May 13, 2013. Retrieved June 15, 2013.
  4. ^ a b c d e Takahashi, Dean (March 19, 2013). "John Riccitiello's legacy: EA survives, but its hit points are dangerously low". VentureBeat. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
  5. ^ a b Lazarus, George (February 16, 1996). "Wilson Ceo Pops Up At Sara Lee". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved June 15, 2013.
  6. ^ Campbell, Colin (May 1998). "Movers and Shakers". Next Generation. No. 41. Imagine Media. p. 31.
  7. ^ a b Morris, Chris (April 7, 2004). "Electronic Arts' president resigns". CNNMoney. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
  8. ^ Kirk, Jim (May 11, 1996). "Ogilvy President to Head Its S. Africa Office". Chicago Sun-Times. Sun-Times Media Group. ISSN 1553-8478. Archived from the original on November 19, 2018 – via HighBeam Research. ... Wilson President John Riccitiello... left to run Sara Lee Corp.'s bakery division in March.
  9. ^ "Wilson Sporting Goods loses head of marketing". Marketing Week. Centaur Media. March 1, 1996. ISSN 0141-9285. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
  10. ^ "Sara Lee President-CEO Moving to Electronic Arts". Advertising Age. Crain Communications. September 15, 1997. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
  11. ^ a b c d Grubb, Jeff (October 22, 2014). "Unity founder steps down to let ex-EA CEO John Riccitiello take over — here's why". VentureBeat. Archived from the original on September 10, 2017. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  12. ^ "Electronic Arts names new CEO". CNNMoney. February 26, 2007. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
  13. ^ Molina, Brett (March 18, 2013). "EA chief John Riccitiello to step down". USA Today. Gannett Company. ISSN 0734-7456. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
  14. ^ Ingraham, Nathan (March 18, 2013). "EA CEO John Riccitiello stepping down on March 30th". The Verge. Vox Media. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
  15. ^ Stuart, Keith (March 18, 2013). "Electronic Arts CEO John Riccitiello resigns". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. OCLC 60623878. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
  16. ^ McWhertor, Michael (October 22, 2014). "Former EA CEO John Riccitiello is now head of Unity". Polygon. Vox Media. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
  17. ^ Gaudiosi, John (April 7, 2012). "Electronic Arts Named Worst Company in America". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
  18. ^ Will Usher (March 5, 2013). "SimCity Now Available; Always-On DRM Causes Major Launch Day Issues". Cinemablend. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
  19. ^ Kuchera, Ben (June 12, 2008). "Lawsuit flags EA for illegal procedure on football monopoly". Ars Technica. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
  20. ^ "Unity's CEO making devs pay per install tried to charge FPS gamers per bullet". Stealth Optional. September 13, 2023. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
  21. ^ bigcudafish (June 27, 2011). EA CEO John Riccitiello On Gaming Microtransactions. Retrieved May 20, 2025 – via YouTube.
  22. ^ Blake, Vikki (February 12, 2025). "Bobby Kotick Declares Former EA Boss John Riccitiello 'Worst CEO in Video Games'". IGN. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
  23. ^ a b Johnson, Eric (October 22, 2014). "Unity CEO David Helgason Replaced by John Riccitiello". Recode. Vox Media. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
  24. ^ Loizos, Connie (May 23, 2017). "Unity, whose software powers half of all new mobile games, lands $400 million from Silver Lake". TechCrunch. Archived from the original on April 14, 2018. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
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  26. ^ Takahashi, Dean (May 23, 2017). "Game engine maker Unity raises $400 million in private equity from Silver Lake". VentureBeat. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
  27. ^ Gaudiosi, John (March 19, 2015). "This company dominates the virtual reality business, and it's not named Oculus". Fortune. Meredith Corporation. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
  28. ^ Oreskovic, Alexei (September 14, 2018). "Why EA's former boss believes the 3D tech that powers video games will make way more money outside of gaming". Business Insider. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
  29. ^ Wolverton, Troy (September 14, 2018). "One of the leading companies in the video-game business is gunning to take over the enterprise software industry". Business Insider. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
  30. ^ Stuart, Keith (September 12, 2023). "Game developers furious as Unity Engine announces new fees". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
  31. ^ "Slay the Spire developer pledges to ditch Unity unless controversial charges plan reversed". Eurogamer.net. September 14, 2023. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
  32. ^ Bailey, Kat (September 13, 2023). "Among Us: Temporary Delisting 'On the Table' as Developer Weighs Engine Swap Amid Unity Scandal". IGN. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
  33. ^ Editor, Brendan Sinclair Managing (March 3, 2015). ""There's no royalties, no f***ing around" - Riccitiello". GamesIndustry.biz. Retrieved May 20, 2025. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  34. ^ Bankhurst, Adam (September 18, 2023). "Unity Has Apologized For Its Install Fee Policy and Says It 'Will Be Making Changes' to It". IGN. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
  35. ^ Takahashi, Dean (September 12, 2024). "Unity cancels its much-hated Runtime Fee, opting for traditional price increases instead". VentureBeat. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
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  37. ^ "Briefing: Unity Ousts CEO, Installing Silver Lake Advisor as Temporary CEO". The Information. October 9, 2023. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
  38. ^ Witkowski, Wallace (October 9, 2023). "John Riccitiello, Unity Software's CEO and chairman, is leaving the company". MarketWatch. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
  39. ^ A. O. L. Staff (July 3, 2024). "Is Unity Software Stock a Buy Now?". www.aol.com. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
  40. ^ Mike (January 29, 2024). "Game Engine Popularity in 2024". GameFromScratch.com. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
  41. ^ Pilates, Gratz™. "Delivering the Gratz equipment you love on-time". Gratz™ Pilates. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
  42. ^ a b "S-1". www.sec.gov. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
  43. ^ Boyd, E. B. (December 26, 2024). "How One Couple Is Reforming Gratz Pilates". nobhillgazette.com. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
  44. ^ Kelion, Leo (January 31, 2013). "EA boss denies video games encourage violent attacks". BBC News. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
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  46. ^ "Hall of Fame: John Riccitiello BS 81". Haas School of Business. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
  47. ^ a b c "Five things to know about John Riccitiello". The Mercury News. July 26, 2008. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
  48. ^ Kay, Jeremy (August 8, 2008). "John Riccitiello joins USC Cinematic Arts board". Screen International. ISSN 0307-4617. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
  49. ^ Makuch, Eddie (March 13, 2013). "EA CEO named to sports power list". GameSpot. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
  50. ^ Chen, Albert (March 11, 2013). "The Power 50". Sports Illustrated. Meredith Corporation. ISSN 0038-822X. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
  51. ^ a b "Online Services | Superior Court of California - County of San Francisco". webapps.sftc.org. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
  52. ^ Dickey, Megan Rose (June 8, 2019). "Former Unity Technology VP files lawsuit alleging CEO sexually harassed her". TechCrunch. Archived from the original on June 8, 2019. Retrieved June 8, 2019.
  53. ^ Takahashi, Dean (June 8, 2019). "Former vice president sues Unity, accuses CEO of sexual harassment". VentureBeat.
  54. ^ Stevens, Suzanne (July 9, 2008). "CEO's Political Contributions to Barack Obama & John McCain". HuffPost. Archived from the original on February 12, 2016. Retrieved December 4, 2018.

Further reading

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