SONY ANNOUNCES EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENTS AND ORGANIZATIONAL REFORMS EFFECTIVE AS OF APRIL 1, 2003
New York, NY - March 31, 2003 -- As Sony Corporation strives to create new growth and corporate value for the 21st Century, it will strengthen group management through reforms based on the "integrated and decentralized" model. Sony accordingly announces the following executive appointments and organizational reforms effective as of April 1, 2003.
Sony already announced the adoption of the "company with committees" principle (January 28, 2003) and its integration into Sony’s own set of governance regulations. This will now be combined with the reorganization of the executive structure announced today to create a new governance system and enhanced business implementation. There will be further announcements on revision of HQ functions and candidates for Director and Corporate Executive Officer in due course.
1) Clarifying Group Management Roles and Strengthening the Group Management Team
In order to clarify the range of responsibilities for executives who oversee total group management, we have established the following roles: Group CEO (Nobuyuki Idei), Group COO (Kunitake Ando) and Group CSO (Chief Strategy Officer) (Teruhisa Tokunaka).
To strengthen the team responsible for total group management, Howard Stringer will be appointed as Vice Chairman and Ken Kutaragi as Executive Deputy President of Sony Corporation in addition to their current positions.
2) Appointment of Regional Representatives
We have introduced a system of regional representatives who will work to optimize operations in each of Sony’s main business regions in line with the overall group vision. The regional representatives will oversee the appropriate implementation of group strategy according to local circumstances.
Sony Group Americas Representative:
Howard Stringer (Director & Vice Chairman of Sony Corporation, Head of Entertainment Business Group, Chairman & CEO of Sony Corporation of America) will further enhance strategic linkages between entertainment and electronics businesses in the Americas.
Sony Group Europe Representative:
Göran Lindahl (Director of Sony Corporation, Chairman of Sony Group in Europe)
Will oversee the formulation of and secure the implementation of the Sony group strategy for the European market. Will in addition maximize Sony’s business opportunities and also maximize the synergies between all of Sony’s products, services and offerings in the Region.
Sony Group East Asia Representative:
Minoru Morio (Director and Vice Chairman of Sony Corporation, Group CPO) will work to optimize engineering, manufacturing, sales and marketing operations in the East Asia region and to create new business opportunities.
3) Reorganization of Sony Group Business Structure
Sony Group’s business structure will be reorganized into seven entities (four Network Companies and three Business Groups). Further authority will be delegated to these entities to formulate strategy in their respective fields on a mid to long-term basis.
Home Network Company
Create a new home environment with networked electronic devices centered on next-generation TV
Broadband Network Company
Development of next-generation electronics devices and linkages to Game devices
IT and Mobile Solutions Network Company
Realize a connected world with PC and mobile devices and strengthen the B to B solutions business
Micro Systems Network Company
Enhance key devices and modules as core components of attractive set products
Game Business Group
Promote Game businesses for the broadband era
Entertainment Business Group
Develop entertainment content businesses based on pictures and music and develop a new content business model for the network era.
Personal Solutions Business Group
Integrate various business units providing services based on direct contact with customers (finance, retail, etc). Strengthen synergies and develop attractive new business models for customers through the application of IT.
4) Service/Platform Function
In addition to the Network Application and Content Service Sector (NACS) which is at the center of Sony’s network business, a Platform Technology Center will be established to support Sony’s total business from hardware to content. The Platform Technology Center will support Network Companies and Business Groups on a horizontal basis.
Electronics CMO and concurrently Deputy President of Home Network Company, Deputy President of IT and Mobile Solutions Network Company, Senior General Manager of Memory Stick Business Center
Fujio Nishida (Corporate Senior Vice President)
Group General Counsel
Teruo Masaki (Director, Corporate Senior Executive Vice President)
Group Deputy General Counsel and concurrently Executive Vice President of Sony Corporation of America
Nicole Seligman
Group CSO – The Group Chief Strategy Officer is responsible for the formulation and implementation of strategy across the entire Sony Group. In addition, the Group CFO and Group CIO will report to him on: Accounting, Taxation and Finance; Investor Relations; Corporate Planning & Control; Information Systems
Electronics CMO – The Electronics Chief Marketing Officer will formulate sales and marketing strategy for electronics in each region from a global perspective.