Sega President Leaving?

Several newspapers in Japan report that Sega's president, Hayao Nakayama, will step down from his position, and Sega's current vice president, Syouichirou Irimajiri, will replace him.

Nakayama is expected to remain with the company as a member of the board of directors. The board of directors will acknowledge the decision this month and accession will be set in February.

It is also believed that Nakayama will take the position of vice chairman at the shareholders' meeting next June. Shouichirou Irimajiri, 58, joined Sega as vice president in 1993, after almost a 30-year career at Honda. Many speculate that the move by Nakayama is to take responsibility for the failed merger between Sega and Bandai, and the less-than-spectacular business achievements of Sega this past year.

In related news, Nihon Keizai Shinbun (Nikkei) reports that Sega will announce its next console system this spring.