Sony's Harrison steps down

Sony today announced that Phil Harrison, one of the founding members of Sony Computer Entertainment and one of the company's most public faces, has resigned.

Harrison's last day with Sony will be February 29, at which point Kazuo Hirai, currently the president and group CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment International, will take over his responsibilities.

Talking of his decision, Harrison said: "The past 15 years at Sony Computer Entertainment has been the defining journey of my life so far...I am so proud of everything PlayStation has achieved and will continue to support its future in every way I can."

Harrison has been with Sony since 1992, serving in senior positions across North America and Europe before being appointed the president of the newly conglomerated Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios when it was formed in 1995.

This role was pivotal in Sony's gaming business. Harrison's responsibilities included setting the global product strategy and managing the development operations of 16 studios in five countries.

As well as being president of SCE WWS, Harrison was corporate executive and representative director of Sony Computer Entertainment and executive vice president of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe.

Harrison was described by Sony as "a core member of the teams that successfully launched all of the PlayStation family of hardware formats and innovative software that have helped expand the market for computer entertainment worldwide."

In the statement announcing Harrison's departure, Hirai backed up this view, saying, "As one of the founding members of SCE, Phil played a key role in the development and growth of the PlayStation business and our industry."

No announcement was made relating to a long-term replacement for Harrison, or his reasons for parting ways with his long-time employer.