Sony has announced that president and CEO of the company Kazuo “Kaz” Hirai will be stepping down from his position. Hirai has held this position at Sony since he took the place of Howard Stringer back in 2012. He has worn many hats at Sony before this, initially joining the company back in 1984 where he worked in the marketing of international music division within Japan.
He later joined the Sony’s PlayStation division in 1995 and was appointed president and COO of SCEAT in 1999. He then became the president of Networked Products and Services Group at Sony Corporation and was in charge of all consumer electronics products and services from Sony. For lack of better terms, Hirai had a major influence over Sony’s video game business worldwide.
The company stated that he has a “pivotal role in elevating the industry into a hugely significant genre, while at the same time making the PlayStation brand synonymous with exceptional gaming and entertainment.” Sony has officially named the current executive deputy president and chief financial officer, Kenichiro Yoshida as his successor for the position. In a lengthy statement, Hirai expresses his how strongly he feels about the company’s success and his dedication to them through the years.
“Ever since my appointment as President and CEO in April 2012, I have stated that my mission is to ensure Sony continues to be a company that provides customers with kando – to move them emotionally – and inspires and fulfills their curiosity. To this end, I have dedicated myself to transforming the company and enhancing its profitability, and am very proud that now, in the third and final year of our current mid-range corporate plan, we are expecting to exceed our financial targets. And it excites me to hear more and more people enthuse that Sony is back again.”