Sony Corp. announces major changes to its structure; Hermen Hulst is no longer CEO of SIE

by

On Tuesday (28th), Variety reported some surprising news: Sony Corp. has restructured its organizational setup and Hermen Hulst is no longer the co-CEO of its entertainment division. However, it’s important to note that he remains as co-CEO within the Studio Business Group, a new branch established for managing PlayStation studios. Furthermore, Sony announced that Hulst will take charge of moving intellectual properties (IPs) to other media platforms via PlayStation Productions.

Hideaki Nishino, who previously shared the CEO role and managed the platform sector, is now taking on the role of sole CEO for the company’s entertainment division, known as SIE. Furthermore, he will maintain his roles as CEO for both the Platform Business Group and the Studio Business Group.

Sony major changes in it’s structure:

  • Hideaki Totoki has been promoted to CEO of Sony Corp.
  • Hideaki Nishino has been promoted to CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment. He also will hold his positions as CEO of the Platform Business Group and co-CEO of Studio Business Group
  • Hermen Hulst has been demoted as co-CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment. He will remain as CEO of the Studio Business Group and will lead PlayStation Productions.

The scenario clearly indicates that Sony Corp. seems to be grappling with some uncertainty following Jim Ryan’s retirement after three decades of service. In an unexpected move, Sony announced that instead of one individual, the role he held will now be divided between two people: Hermen Hulst and Hideaki Nishino.

Currently, Hermen has been demoted due to a reversal in the company’s decision. Notably, Hideaki Totoki, a longtime Sony Corp employee with 38 years of service, is now assuming the role vacated by Kenichiro Yoshida as CEO. These changes were endorsed by the board and will become effective on April 1st.

Totoki said the following:

Totoki expressed deep gratitude and humility in being appointed President and CEO. He acknowledged the significant contributions made by former CEOs Kazuo Hirai and Kenichiro Yoshida, which have boosted Sony’s worth. Totoki intends to build on this success and pass on an even more prosperous Sony to future leaders. During our Corporate Strategy Meeting in May of last year, we unveiled our ‘Creative Entertainment Vision,’ a roadmap for where we aspire Sony to be in 10 years, with our purpose serving as the foundation. Our diversity, a core aspect of Sony’s identity, and our ability to connect across organizational boundaries will be instrumental in realizing this vision. Alongside our employees, creators, partners, and our new executive team, I am committed to crafting a vibrant future brimming with an endless sense of emotional impact.

Hideaki Nishino also commented on his promotion:

Nishino expressed his immense gratitude for being appointed at Sony Interactive Entertainment. He emphasized that our key assets are technology and creativity, which we will leverage to create entertainment that caters to all. We aim to expand the PlayStation community in innovative ways, like growing our IP, while also delivering cutting-edge technological advancements. I’d like to thank Hermen for his knowledge and guidance as he remains CEO of Studio Business Group. I am profoundly appreciative of the PlayStation community’s support and cannot wait to see what lies ahead.

What are your thoughts on Sony undergoing significant reorganization? Share your views in the comment section and participate in our forum discussion.

Read More

2025-01-29 05:48