The big news of this weekend is that Idei AND Ando will step down and Howard Stringer will be named by the board to lead Sony.
I'll bet money that Stringer won't move to Japan. He'll have 2 offices, I'm sure, but will be permanently based in the NYC office. If Stringer can lead a turn-around as Ghosn did at Nissan or Gerstner did at IBM, this is the time to do it.
Lots more on this to come. This will be big news for quite some time.
Sony to Name Non-Japanese Executive to Top Position [nytimes.com]
Sony Considers Shaking Up Top Management [AP via Yahoo! News]
UPDATE: Ryoji Chubachi is named President of Sony and CEO of the electronics business. I don't know much about him.
Sony Names Head of U.S. Unit as Chairman [reuters.com]
I guess this is what Kutaragi get's for his press conference last month. Who says the truth can never hurt you.
Or was that just backlash again advance notice that this was the direction things were going.
Either way I'm not holding my breath for a Rocky III story here. Sometimes a fat, out of shape, over the hill boxer should just throw in the towel and try retire... or merge with Samsung ;)
Great, another non-engineer to run the company down even faster. Since Stringer is from the media side of the business, he is certainly not going to challenge the failed media diversification strategy. The fascination telecoms and technology executives have with media is really amazing, even though it's a marginal business where only the most brazen poker-players like Rupert Murdoch can survive. Maybe it's the glamour that causes them to suspend all critical judgement, and leads to the tail wagging the dog...
Perhaps Sony should do what Westinghouse and divest itself of its non-media assets before they wither on the vine altogether.
come back, Gen!
:-)
So a clean sweep of the board to boot!
I wonder is Kutaragi left hoping to buy SCE out from the Sony umbrella. Lord knows how a content man like Stringer thinks he'll be able to handle the electronics business by himself.
I see a leaner, more competitive Sony a few years down the road. I also see almost no one caring at all.
--> Fazal
You're Right.
i think that Sony's consummer electronic business is for sale
Very Good. This should have happened two years ago. Idei and Kutaragi: Out! Ha, finally. Now there is hope.