7 March, 2005

Sony's link with Wales

Today, Sony announced Nobuyuki Idei, its president and CEO, is going to step down from his post and nominated Howard Stringer, currently chief executive of the Sony Corporation of America, as a new CEO.

Idei became CEO in 1995. For the first few years, he was being in luck. With favourable elements such as Play Station's hit, the profitable movie sector and strong Yen, Idei was successful in presenting his management skills. However, recently Sony's sales of main products have been ailing. As a result, Sony decided to carry out this personnel reshuffle as part of the reformation.

Personally the point of this news is a new CEO, Howard Stringer. It is a first time for Sony to take non-Japanese into its top management team.

Mr Stringer's appointment as chairman and chief executive is a ground-breaking move designed to symbolise Sony's determination to bring about corporate change, the BBC's Tokyo correspondent Jonathan Head says.

AND, to my surprise, this 63-year-old CEO is born in 1942 in CARDIFF, WALES. Do you know the connection between Wales and Sony? They have been related, since Sony opened its first factory in Wales in 1974. Prince Charles has once visited the factory.

When Sony announced its reform plan called "Transformation 60" that would result the downsizing　of 20,000 workers worldwide, Welsh workers was threatened with closure. But they were saved as a result.

So, is he going to turn round Sony's fortunes like Japanese car manufacturer, Nissan's Carlos Ghosn has done?

He doesn't speak Japanese, by the way. And he's Sir.

» BBC News | Sony appoints first foreign head