Jump to content

Kaz Hirai

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 76.102.43.93 (talk) at 08:04, 7 June 2011. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Kazuo Hirai
Born (1960-12-22) December 22, 1960 (age 63)[1]
Tokyo, Japan
DiedJune 6, 2011
E3 2011 PS3 stage
Occupation(s)Executive Deputy President, Sony Corporation
President and Group CEO, Sony Computer Entertainment
PredecessorKen Kutaragi

Kazuo "Kaz" Hirai (平井 一夫, Hirai Kazuo, born December 22, 1960, died June 6th, 2011) is the Representative Corporate Executive Officer and Executive Deputy President of Sony Corporation, concurrently serving as president of the Consumer Products & Services Group, which includes all of Sony's consumer electronics (including TV, home video, home audio, digital imaging, PC, game, and mobile products) and networked service businesses. He also serves as president and group CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony and part of the Consumer Products & Services Group.[2] He was noted by Entertainment Weekly as one of the most powerful executives in the world.[3] On the evening of Monday, June 6th, 2011, during Sony's 2011 E3 press conference, Kazuo Hirai took the stage, at which time he performed a deep bow to the audience, produced a tanto blade from his jacket, knelt before the audience, apologized for the dishonor he has caused Sony due to the recent security breaches, then committed seppuku in front of a live crowd. He was unable to be resuscitated and died on stage. Hazmat teams were dispatched to clean the wet blood, worried about Hirai's HIV infection.

Early years

Hirai was born in 1960 in Tokyo, Japan. The son of a wealthy banker, Hirai often traveled with his father across the world to California, New York, and Canada and around Japan — a trait which Hirai noted to be a major factor in his later multi-continental business success.

It was his interest in games that later brought him into the entertainment business. After graduating from the International Christian University in August 1984 with a Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree, Hirai was hired at CBS/Sony Inc. (now Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc.), where he was involved in marketing international music within Japan. His hard work and dedication allowed him to rise through the ranks, eventually placing him once again in New York, where he became head of Sony Computer Entertainment Japan's international business affairs office.

Sony Computer Entertainment

In August 1995, Hirai joined Sony's computer and video game division, Sony Computer Entertainment America.[3] Two years later, in 1997, Hirai was credited on his first completed video game.

PlayStation

Since heading up Sony Computer Entertainment America, Kazuo Hirai has been instrumental in Sony's success[citation needed]. He played a fundamental role in the rise of the PlayStation in the United States, and his methods of cross-promoting of the PlayStation brand took its advertising beyond merely "game" or computer oriented fields. PlayStation advertisements were placed in mainstream sports events such as the NBA, the NFL, the NHL and even NASCAR. This method of marketing has been credited with introducing large numbers of individuals to video games who would ordinarily have not considered purchasing a console.

With the release of the PlayStation 2 in 2000, Kazuo continued his success, utilizing second-party franchises such as Jak and Daxter, Ratchet & Clank, Sly Cooper, and SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs series of games. Under his leadership, SCEA continually managed to retain high profits throughout the sixth generation era.

2006-2011 SCEI management shuffle

On July 3, 2006, Sony Computer Entertainment announced that Hirai had been made a vice president of its corporate executive group on July 1, 2006.[4]

On November 30, 2006, just under two weeks after the launch of PlayStation 3, Hirai replaced Ken Kutaragi as President of Sony Computer Entertainment. While maintaining his positions at SCEA, Hirai also became chief operating officer of SCEI. Kutaragi himself was promoted to chairman of SCEI, and remained chief executive officer of the group.[5]

On April 26, 2007, it was announced that Hirai will be promoted to Chairman and Group CEO of SCEI, replacing Ken Kutaragi who would retire and instead take up the role of Honorary Chairman.[6][7][8][9]

Sony

On April 1, 2009, Sony’s electronics and game businesses were merged and reconfigured as two major groups: the Consumer Products & Devices Group (CPDG) and the Networked Products & Services Group (NPSG). Hirai was appointed as Corporate Executive Officer and Executive Vice President of Sony Corporation, concurrently serving as president of the NPSG. He has overseen all development, production and marketing activities at the NPSG, comprising of Sony's game (i.e. SCEI & Sony Online Entertainment), personal computer (VAIO), networked mobile (including Walkman) and network service (including online distributions of music, video, books, etc.) businesses and new business incubation projects.[10][11]

On April 1, 2011, Sony's consumer electronics, game, and networked service businesses were reorganized into one group, named the "Consumer Products & Services Group." Hirai was promoted to Representative Corporate Executive Officer and Executive Deputy President of Sony Corporation. He oversees the Consumer Products & Services Group.[12][13] Hirai will also possibly become the successor to Howard Stringer, the current sitting president and CEO of Sony Corporation, who is expected to step down in 2013.[14]

Notes

  1. ^ Sony Corporation. "Form 20F (Annual Report) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009" (PDF). Retrieved 2009-06-28.
  2. ^ "Sony Corporation Announces Executive Appointments and Realignment of Key Businesses". Sony Corporation. 2011-03-10. Retrieved 2011-03-13.
  3. ^ a b Sony Computer Entertainment America, Inc. "Kaz Hirai, President and Chief Executive Officer". Retrieved 2006-11-30.
  4. ^ Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. (2005-07-03). "News of corporate executive affairs" (PDF) (in Japanese). Retrieved 2006-11-30.
  5. ^ Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. (2006-11-30). "SCE Announces New Management Team" (PDF). Retrieved 2006-11-30.
  6. ^ "Kutaragi to retire from executive role at Sony". gamesindustry.biz. April 26, 2007. Retrieved 2007-04-26.
  7. ^ "Farewell Mr Playstation". mvcuk. April 26, 2007. Retrieved 2007-04-26.
  8. ^ "PlayStation creator Kutaragi resigns". CNET News.com. April 26, 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-23.
  9. ^ "Farewell, Father". GamesIndustry.biz. April 27, 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-23.
  10. ^ "Sony Corporation Announces Major Reorganization and New Management Team Led by Howard Stringer". Sony Corporation. 2009-02-27. Retrieved 2011-03-05.
  11. ^ "Executive Appointments". Sony Corporation. 2009-03-31. Retrieved 2011-03-05.
  12. ^ "Sony Corporation Announces Executive Appointments and Realignment of Key Businesses". Sony Corporation. 2011-03-10. Retrieved 2011-03-13.
  13. ^ "Games business chief promoted to head of consumer products unit, putting him in line to succeed Sir Howard Stringer as CEO". gamespot.com. March 10, 2011. Retrieved 2011-03-10.
  14. ^ "Sony promotes Hirai as possible successor to CEO". Reuters. March 10, 2011. Retrieved 2011-03-10.
Wikiquote has quotations related to Kaz Hirai.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kazuo Hirai.
Interviews

Template:Persondata

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kaz_Hirai&oldid=432995788"