Sony shuffles top management

In March, Sony promoted Kaz Hirai to executive deputy president, a move that appears to put him in line to succeed Sir Howard Stringer as CEO of Sony Corp. With Stringer expected to retire in 2013, Sony has pushed ahead with a management restructuring at its computer entertainment business.

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) president, CEO, and co-COO Andrew House will take over as president and group CEO of SCEI on September 1. House has been with Sony since 1990, and he has worked in a range of marketing positions at the company.

Also effective September 1, Hirai will become chairman of Sony Computer Entertainment International (SCEI). Hirai had held the title of president and CEO at SCEI since November 2006.

In his new role as SCEI chairman, Hirai will be responsible for "accelerating the implementation of a faster, stronger, and integrated strategy to create new user experience and generate added value by uniting hardware, content, and network, both for the home and on the go."

Ken Katuragi--known for helping successfully launch the original PlayStation and its successors--has retired from his honorary chairman position at SCEI as of yesterday, June 28. Kutaragi will remain with the company as a "senior technology advisor."

Lastly, SCEI's current chairman, Akira Sato, will retire from the company this August. He has been with Sony since 1991 and has helped the company grow through the creation of SCE Worldwide Studios and a global network of 15 Sony-owned studios. Those development outfits include Naughty Dog, Zipper Interactive, Guerrilla Games, Media Molecule, and others.