SCEA sends House to Japan, promotes Tretton

In the latest in a recent flurry of game-company management changes, Sony Computer Entertainment America has announced a trio of appointments. Topping the list is Andrew House's promotion from SCEA executive vice president to the brand-new position of chief marketing officer for the entire Sony Corporation. Now based out of both the US and Japan, House will also bear the title of "group executive."

According to a statement from Sony, House's new role will give him "global responsibility for corporate marketing across all of Sony's businesses." Said Sony Corporation CEO Howard Stringer, "Sony's brand is one of the company's greatest assets. Andy will work toward creating a brand personality unique to Sony, one that reflects all aspects of our business."

Like Stringer, House was born in Wales in Great Britain. He joined Sony in 1990 in the corporate communications department of the company’s Japanese headquarters. In April 1995, he transferred into Sony Computer Entertainment, Sony's game division, where he helped market American and European games inside Japan. A year later, he was sent across the Pacific to work at SCEA, where he helped market the original PlayStation and launched the PlayStation 2. In 2002, he was tapped to be SCEA's vice president and oversaw the US launch of the Sony PSP earlier this year.

Another SCEA executive instrumental in the PSP's launch was also promoted today. Jack Tretton, former executive vice president, will now be SCEA's co-chief operating officer and executive vice president of sales and marketing. In his new capacity, he will work closely with SCEA CEO Kaz Hirai to make sure SCEA "is strategically positioned for future success." He will also head up a team of 80 internal marketing personnel "responsible for managing and continuing to develop the world-renowned PlayStation brand" in the US and Canada.

Lastly is the promotion of Riley Russell, current SCEA general counsel and vice president. As the new head of third-party relations and developer support, he will "be responsible for cultivating relationships and maintaining and growing content alliances with developers and publishers, as well as managing licensee relations and overall strategic product planning in support of all PlayStation platforms in North America, including the upcoming, much-anticipated PlayStation 3," according to Sony.