Satoru Iwata (Japanese: <span lang="ja">岩田 聡</span>) was a renowned Japanese businessman, video game programmer, designer, and producer. As the fourth president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Nintendo from 2002 until his death in 2015, he played a pivotal role in shaping the modern landscape of the gaming industry.

Born in Sapporo, Iwata was fascinated by video games from a young age and developed his first game while still in high school. He pursued computer science at the Tokyo Institute of Technology and joined HAL Laboratory in 1980 as a programmer during his university days. His early work included collaborations with Nintendo, producing his first commercial game in 1983. Notable projects he contributed to include EarthBound and the Kirby series.

After HAL's financial turbulence, Iwata became HAL's president in 1993, steering the company back to stability. His tenure saw him involved in the development of iconic franchises such as Pokémon and Super Smash Bros. Joining Nintendo's corporate planning division in 2000, he rapidly ascended to the presidency in 2002, succeeding Hiroshi Yamauchi. Under Iwata's leadership, Nintendo launched the innovative Nintendo DS and Wii consoles, cementing the company's financial success and broadening gaming's reach through his 'blue ocean' strategy.

Despite facing challenges with the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U, which led to financial downturns, Iwata's commitment to the gaming community never wavered. He famously halved his salary twice to take responsibility for corporate hardships. Embracing the emerging mobile game market, he established a partnership with DeNA in 2015, further demonstrating his forward-thinking vision.

Iwata was beloved for his direct engagement with fans through social media and appearances in 'Iwata Asks' and 'Nintendo Direct'. His untimely passing in 2015, due to complications from a bile duct tumor, was mourned by industry peers and fans worldwide. Posthumously, he was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at both the 2015 Golden Joystick Awards and the 2016 D.I.C.E. Awards, leaving behind a legacy of innovation and inspiration.