Sony Group Corp is appointing Hiroki Totoki. 60, as chief executive officer, a stamp of approval for the longtime finance chief’s push to expand the Japanese company’s entertainment reach.
Along with outgoing CEO Kenichiro Yoshida, Totoki helped steer the Tokyo-based technology conglomerate to focus on growing its entertainment offerings. Last year alone, the company expressed interest in potential acquisitions ranging from Paramount Global to domestic publishing house Kadokawa Corp.
That focus on content — which spans PlayStation games, anime, music and movies — is bolstering revenue and profit at Sony. In the September quarter, operating profit grew 76 percent year-on-year amid sluggish demand for its smartphone components and image sensors, used by the likes of Apple Inc and Xiaomi Corp (小米).
Photo: Reuters
Yoshida is to remain as chairman of the board, Sony said in a statement yesterday.
Hideaki Nishino is to take charge of the company’s pivotal game and network services business, while Hermen Hulst is newly appointed as CEO of the game studio business. The moves, all effective April 1, are part of a new management structure intended to secure Sony’s long-term growth, the company said.
Totoki had taken up more of the leadership burden at Tokyo-based Sony two years prior, when he added the titles of president and chief operating officer to his role as chief financial officer. He provides Sony’s commentary on conference calls after earnings each quarter and has steered the company through a difficult time with prolonged supply shortages of its flagship PlayStation 5 console.
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