One of gaming's most influential figures of the past two decades just got a new job, and it doesn't involve video games. Reggie Fils-Aime has just been elected to the Board of Directors for the Brunswick Corporation, a company known for its boating-lifestyle brands.
In the world of video games, Reggie Fils-Aime was won awards for his impact on gaming. He spent 15 years as the president of Nintendo of America, helping the company during some of its most successful periods, including the rise of the Nintendo Wii and the insanely popular Nintendo DS. Now he is taking his expertise to the seas, joining a company that has been around even longer than Nintendo, as the Brunswick Corporation started in 1845 (compared to 1889 for Nintendo).
Reggie made the announcement on his Twitter page, linking to an official press release by Brunswick. According to the tweet, Reggie is excited to combine his love for the sea with his "passion for helping companies grow." In the press release, Brunswick reveals the new board member selection by highlighting Reggie's career, which of course includes Reggie's memorable years with Nintendo, but also his time with Procter & Gamble, Pizza Hut, and MTV.
Reggie is having fun in his retirement, and very much staying busy. Currently, Reggie is on the board of directors for GameStop, as well as Spin Master Corporation. Even while juggling three positions on boards, it is likely that none of it keeps him quite as busy as his president role for Nintendo of America.
Reggie is definitely not done influencing video games either, as of course his role with GameStop keeps him connected to his passion for gaming. But Reggie will also be co-hosting the New York Game Awards in 2021, keeping him in touch with the community. He has always been a favorite of Nintendo fans, so many will be happy to see his face on a stage again, even if he is no longer presenting at E3 press conferences.
It will be interesting to see what kind of impact Reggie has on the Brunswick Corporation. It may be difficult to see his fingerprints from his role, but the company seems to be very glad to have him on board. His announcement via a tweet isn't quite as jaw-dropping as his first iconic moment in front of Nintendo fans, where he told everyone "My name is Reggie. I'm about kickin' ass, I'm about takin' names, and we're about makin' games." Reggie instantly made an impact on Nintendo when he arrived, helping the company grow in maturity, while still maintaining its iconic and special appeal.