Beginning April 1, new Sony CEO Kenichiro Yoshida will step into the company’s hot seat, taking over from Kazuo “Kaz” Hirai. After six years in the CEO position, Hirai will step down to the role of chairman.
In a statement reported by The Verge, Hirai spoke highly of his replacement, and the future of Sony under new guidance:
“Mr. Yoshida combines a deeply strategic mindset with a relentless determination to achieve defined targets, and the ability to take a global viewpoint … I believe he possesses the breadth of experience and perspective, as well as the unwavering leadership qualities required to manage Sony’s diverse array of businesses, and as such is the ideal person to drive the company forward into the future. As Chairman, I will of course offer my full support to Mr. Yoshida and the new management team, and do all I can to facilitate a smooth transition and ensure their future success.”
New Sony CEO Yoshida also offered a comment, stating that he has an “immediate business plan” to put into effect, which will “build on the business foundations established by Mr. Hirai, and execute further reform measures that enhance [Sony’s] competitiveness as a global enterprise, and enable [Sony] to realize long-term profit growth.”
What exactly this all means for the gaming world, is not yet known. But it sounds like Yoshida has some big ideas, which we’ll soon start to see being put into action.
The date of April 1 isn’t some tasteless joke. It is the beginning of the next fiscal year, and so it makes sense for Hirai to hold off until then.
I’m sure we’ll learn more about Yoshida’s plans as the year goes on. It’s sure to be an interesting time!
