Kazuo Hirai, or just Kaz Hirai, has announced that he will be fully retiring from working at Sony this year. Hirai was the former CEO of Sony until April of last year, where he stepped back from the role to become a chairman of the company. Now, he's ready to leave Sony in the hands of its new CEO, Kenichiro Yoshida, and retire. Effective June 18, 2019, Hirai will step down, and cap off his over 35 year career with the Sony corporation.

I am confident that everyone at Sony is fully aligned under Yoshida-san’s strong leadership, and are ready to build an even brighter future for Sony. As such, I have decided to depart from Sony, which has been a part of my life for the past 35 years. I would like to extend my warmest gratitude to all our employees and stakeholders who have supported me throughout this journey.

Source

 

[Sonic Angel Knight]

Isn't this the guy that's been pushing the new censorship policies on playstation? You force them down developers' throats and then retire?

 

[DiscostewSM]

So he's retiring.

REEEE-tiring!

 

[spotanjo3]

Umm.. Ok. Good for him? Whatever.. Move on.

 

[Chary]

Maybe that now he's retired, he can play more Riiiiiiiiidge Raaaaaaacer.

 

[K3Nv2]

Censorship? So now we can hear the word fuck more often in sony titles?

 

[Kioku]

Maybe that now he's retired, he can play more Riiiiiiiiidge Raaaaaaacer.

Nostalgia at its best.

 

[DANTENDO]

Mayb we'll see him next in I'm a celebrity get me out of here

 

[WiiUBricker]

First Reggie, now Kaz. Anyway, hope he doesn’t mind unbanning my PSN while he is leaving.

 

[Deleted_413010]

It seems like all of the major people are just stepping down this year. Like fully quitting. Maybe they are all creating a new company together?

 

[the_randomizer]

No more 599 US dollars Riiiiiiiiiidge Racer memes. Sad day.

 

[codezer0]

Maybe sony will be less shitty after he is gone. Then again, Kaz had the chance to make things right after the "oh just get a 2nd/3rd job" hot mess that Krazy Ken left behind and Kaz just went on to make things even more batshit stupid and unreliable. So i fully expect his replacement to be objectively worse.

 

[Deleted_413010]

Maybe sony will be less shitty after he is gone. Then again, Kaz had the chance to make things right after the "oh just get a 2nd/3rd job" hot mess that Krazy Ken left behind and Kaz just went on to make things even more batshit stupid and unreliable. So i fully expect his replacement to be objectively worse.

If what you said is true then here's how it works.

Kaz Hirai ---> Future CEO = Worse
Future CEO ---> FUTURE Future CEO = Even Worse
FUTURE Future CEO ---> FUTURE FUTURE Future CEO = The Worst

 

[guisadop]

He was one of the best CEOs the playstation division ever had.

 

[Deleted_413010]

He was one of the best CEOs the playstation division ever had.

Some people don't agree

 

[pohaxsf]

He killed the vita.

 

[Deleted_413010]

He killed the vita.

Your point? It sucked anyways

 

[pohaxsf]

Your point? It sucked anyways

His team and his approach hit it. Again, it is saved by cfw and that's what I am thankful! If they were open minded it would be good.

 

[Silent_Gunner]

Maybe that now he's retired, he can play more Riiiiiiiiidge Raaaaaaacer.

And keep selling technically impressive systems with long shelf lives for $599!

 

[the_randomizer]

And keep selling technically impressive systems with long shelf lives for $599!

599 US Dollars!