Square Enix Europe and America chief operating officer (COO) Mike Sherlock has passed away unexpectedly. The cause of death is currently unknown. Sherlock had been with the company since 2005 where he started as senior vice president of marketing. Before joining Square Enix, Sherlock had worked as president of international publishing for Acclaim and executive vice president of sales & marketing for Sega Europe.
Sherlock served as the COO for Square Enix Europe and America since July 2015. He had served as the COO in Europe beginning in 2009. Square Enix Europe and America CEO Phil Rogers expressed his thoughts in a press release.
“It is with tremendous sorrow that we announce the passing of our great friend and colleague, Mike Sherlock,” he said. “Mike was a principled and charismatic leader who led by example. He was extremely proud of the progress and success we have shared over the years. The entire Square Enix family mourns this tragic loss, and our deepest sympathies are with his family and loved ones.”
In the ResetEra thread regarding his passing, Alex Ward (Three Fields Entertainment) remembered Sherlock, saying, that Sherlock was “was one of he nicest people I ever met in the business.” Ward described their professional relationship and what Sherlock meant to him.
“Mike was a huge supporter of myself, my studio (Criterion Games) and my game (Burnout),” said Ward. “It’s because of people like Mike, and the hundred or so other people who worked for Acclaim in Europe at that time that the game became successful.”
Sherlock is credited in Square Enix games dating back to Dragon Quest VIII and Kingdom Hearts II. Square Enix purchased Eidos Interactive and its associated intellectual properties—including Tomb Raider and Deus Ex—in 2009. Those franchises saw well-received reboots in 2013 and 2011, respectively. Square Enix released Octopath Traveler to critical and commercial success this year. The Square Enix executive team will assume his responsibilities in the wake of his passing.
