Sony Regroups Business Units, Promotes Hirai

Sony Corp. plans to realign its core businesses into two groups — one focused on consumer products, the other on professional products — as its board of directors mulls an eventual successor to chief executive Howard Stringer.

Kazuo Hirai, current head of Sony’s gaming unit, will now oversee all of the company’s consumer electronics businesses, in a likely preparation for Stringer’s post.

Stringer — who has extended his commitment with Sony, adding the title of president as part of the reorganization — told reporters in Tokyo that he had discussed a succession plan with the Sony board (via The Hollywood Reporter). While the board has not yet made a final decision, Stringer said, assigning greater responsibilities to Hirai represents “an opportunity for the board to watch Hirai-san and to judge his performance.”

In its announcement of the reorganziation, Sony credits Hirai with leading “the turnaround of the games business [and expanding] the PlayStation Network — which now boasts more than 74 million registered accounts worldwide.”

Meanwhile, Sony’s new Professional & Device Solutions Group — which includes broadcast and professional products, as well as semiconductors and batteries — will be led by Hiroshi Yoshioka, Sony’s executive deputy president.

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