Ken Kutaragi Steps Down
The Father of the PlayStation to be succeeded by Kazuo Hirai in June; plans to pursue new endeavors.
Published: April 26, 2007
In a joint announcement today by Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. and Sony Corporation, Ken Kutaragi, Chairman and CEO of SCEI and perhaps best known as the "Father of the PlayStation," will retire from his executive position. Effective June 19 of this year, Kutaragi, who will instead serve as Honorary Chairman to the company, will "pass the torch" as chair and CEO on to Kazuo "Kaz" Hirai, current SCEI President and Group COO. Hirai had previously replaced Kutaragi as SCEI President in a management shuffle late November 2006.
The decision comes as an afterthought to the PlayStation 3 launch, which Kutaragi wanted to see through before pursuing his dreams beyond the PlayStation brand, according to the press release.
"I am happy to graduate from Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. after introducing four platforms to the PlayStation family," says Kutaragi. "It has been an exciting experience to change the world of computer entertainment by marrying cutting edge technologies with creative minds all over the world. I'm looking forward to building on this vision in my next endeavors."
Kutaragi's rise to success began with his invention of the original PlayStation, after persuading Sony to fund his research into the system's original incarnation, the Super NES CD. The 1994 launch of the PlayStation was succeeded by the PlayStation 2 in 2000. The two currently sharing an installed base over more than 200 million units in homes worldwide.
Kutaragi will continue to support Sir Howard Stringer, Chairman and CEO of Sony Corporation, as senior technology advisor. Relations have reportedly been uneasy between the two, as a March 2007 interview with the Wall Street Journal had Stringer offering harsh criticism to Kutaragi, suggesting he went over budget on development costs for the PlayStation 3 without informing the Sony CEO.
Stringer offered venerable remarks on the soon-to-be former chairman regardless.
"Ken Kutaragi is a rare combination of a powerful visionary and entrepreneur in one figure," compliments Stringer. "Not only has he created a multi-billion dollar business for the Sony Group, he has brought the industry into a new dimension. Sony has benefited tremendously from his vision, his creative genius, and from the very strong team he assembled and nurtured. As Ken moves forward to pursue new opportunities, we will encourage and support him.
Stringer continues, "My support also goes to Kazuo Hirai, who is a terrific executive with a proven track record with PlayStation business in the US. I am confident that he will inspire and lead SCEI to new heights.
The decision comes as an afterthought to the PlayStation 3 launch, which Kutaragi wanted to see through before pursuing his dreams beyond the PlayStation brand, according to the press release.
"I am happy to graduate from Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. after introducing four platforms to the PlayStation family," says Kutaragi. "It has been an exciting experience to change the world of computer entertainment by marrying cutting edge technologies with creative minds all over the world. I'm looking forward to building on this vision in my next endeavors."
Kutaragi's rise to success began with his invention of the original PlayStation, after persuading Sony to fund his research into the system's original incarnation, the Super NES CD. The 1994 launch of the PlayStation was succeeded by the PlayStation 2 in 2000. The two currently sharing an installed base over more than 200 million units in homes worldwide.
Kutaragi will continue to support Sir Howard Stringer, Chairman and CEO of Sony Corporation, as senior technology advisor. Relations have reportedly been uneasy between the two, as a March 2007 interview with the Wall Street Journal had Stringer offering harsh criticism to Kutaragi, suggesting he went over budget on development costs for the PlayStation 3 without informing the Sony CEO.
Stringer offered venerable remarks on the soon-to-be former chairman regardless.
"Ken Kutaragi is a rare combination of a powerful visionary and entrepreneur in one figure," compliments Stringer. "Not only has he created a multi-billion dollar business for the Sony Group, he has brought the industry into a new dimension. Sony has benefited tremendously from his vision, his creative genius, and from the very strong team he assembled and nurtured. As Ken moves forward to pursue new opportunities, we will encourage and support him.
Stringer continues, "My support also goes to Kazuo Hirai, who is a terrific executive with a proven track record with PlayStation business in the US. I am confident that he will inspire and lead SCEI to new heights.
