Sony has announced that their current CEO, Kaz Hirai, will be stepping down from the company in April 2018. He will then be appointed as a chairman of the company, while chief financial officer Kenchiro Yoshida will be replacing Hirai as CEO. This news follows after Sony Interactive Entertainment's (PlayStation) CEO Andrew House stepped down at the end of last year, as well. Though this will certainly shake things up at Sony/PlayStation, Hirai states that Yoshida is more than able to succeed him at the company, and that his transition into CEO will be smooth.

The Board is grateful to Kazuo Hirai for his outstanding contribution over the past six years, taking leadership of the company amidst an extremely challenging business environment in 2012, and making great progress in revitalizing Sony’s business. Given these achievements, we were initially surprised by his proposal to step down from the role of President and CEO, but over time and following extensive further discussions we ultimately reached a decision to respect his wishes. The Nominating Committee had been regularly discussing potential management succession plans, and after receiving the proposal from Mr. Hirai, we engaged in renewed discussion, leading to the conclusion that Mr. Yoshida would be the ideal candidate to succeed Mr. Hirai as Sony President and CEO, and lead Sony into the future. The Board also unanimously supported this proposal. Together with Mr. Hirai, the Board will offer their full support to Mr. Yoshida and his new management team, while also closely observing their progress from a shareholder perspective.

For those that might not know who Kaz Hirai is, some may remember him from PlayStation's E3 2006 conference, where many jokes spawned from his awkward on-stage line of "Riiiiidge Racer".

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[T-hug]

Liiiiiiiiidge LACEEEERRRRR! (SORRY IF I OFFENDED SOMEONE)

Seriously though <3 Kaz, he is the reason PS4 is dominating this gen. After MS did so well with 360, Kaz was like nextgen lets kill these guys, and they have done just that with deal after deal, exclusive after exclusive. Sneaky ninja strategies, well done my man!

Good luck senpai Kaz!

 

[BvanBart]

What a hero! Is it a good action from Sony?
And indeed good luck Kaz

 

[zoogie]

So his famous twitter parody account will outlive his career? lol

I don’t know why everybody is reporting that I am stepping down as CEO as news when I already announced it last year. https://t.co/PCQZGHUwVD

— Ex-CEO Kaz Hirai (@KazHiraiCEO) February 2, 2018

 

[BetaXenon]

Liiiiiiiiidge LACEEEERRRRR! (SORRY IF I OFFENDED SOMEONE)

Seriously though <3 Kaz, he is the reason PS4 is dominating this gen.

But isn't he also reason why PS Vita basically dead nowadays?

 

[Reploid]

Hooray, maybe Sony'll take a better course. Or ever worse one.

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

Liiiiiiiiidge LACEEEERRRRR! (SORRY IF I OFFENDED SOMEONE)

Seriously though <3 Kaz, he is the reason PS4 is dominating this gen. After MS did so well with 360, Kaz was like nextgen lets kill these guys, and they have done just that with deal after deal, exclusive after exclusive. Sneaky ninja strategies, well done my man!

Good luck senpai Kaz!

the reason ad disaster of XBOX one (TV and DRM), so they have monopoly there.

 

[Axido]

The CEO position in the hands of the financial department... I see that going well. /s

Though, to be honest it already felt like this for years seeing their Vita support after the launch of the PS4 as well as increased PS+ fees.

I'm sure that either nothing will change or it will be even worse than it is already.

 

[Spectral Blizzard]

Who?
In all seriousness, hopefully a sensible guy will get the role.
Assholes ruin everything.

 

[MeowMeowMeow]

So his famous twitter parody account will outlive his career? lol

https://twitter.com/KazHiraiCEO/status/959323467861708800

Troll account.

 

[sarkwalvein]

Bring back Ken Kutaragi, he has an job to finish. /s

 

[Astral_]

The CEO position in the hands of the financial department... I see that going well. /s

Well Nintendo did just the same after Iwata's passing, and I think they are doing more than fine.

 

[WhiteMaze]

But isn't he also reason why PS Vita basically dead nowadays?

Yup.

That is the sole reason I am happy about him being replaced.

 

[SFGChamps]

Had nothing to do with him, it was Microsoft shooting themselves in the foot at E3.

 

[codezer0]

Screw him. He had a chance to right the turd that was the state of things in the reign of "Krazy Ken" Kutaragi, and he just followed ken's playbook instead.

 

[SirNapkin1334]

Liiiiiiiiidge LACEEEERRRRR! (SORRY IF I OFFENDED SOMEONE)

Seriously though <3 Kaz, he is the reason PS4 is dominating this gen. After MS did so well with 360, Kaz was like nextgen lets kill these guys, and they have done just that with deal after deal, exclusive after exclusive. Sneaky ninja strategies, well done my man!

Good luck senpai Kaz!

Yes! Then without him maybe Nintendo will be able to dominate over Sony!
Oops, did I say that out loud?

 

[SonicfanCEMUTesting]

See you later, "RIIIIIIIIIIDGE RACER" guy.

 

[the_randomizer]

No more 599 US dollars.

 

[PolloDiablo]

I came here to say this

Spoiler

ridge racer

 

[netovsk]

What? Yoshida? Hell no

Bring back Ken Kutaragi from retirement

Make PlayStation great again

 

[Geezerdorf]

The end of an era.
Whilst Hirai had a looooot, and i mean, a looooooooooooooot of serious and questionable decisions over the years, it's weird to see him go, after correcting the mistakes that were being made with the PS3/4. Needless to say, what happened to his strategy with the Vita? What was all of that of Vita is Life? The console is dead as a horse overseas, and it could had been a potential competitor for the switch in this moment. Still think that strategy with the console would had worked now, not before. Some of his strategies were ahead of his time.

Oh well. Yoshida will have a huge shoes to fill, but if Kimishima is an indication, maybe Yoshida knows what his market wants for Playstation. Maybe.
Will he pull through with the PS4PRO and the already dead Vita? What about his other responsibilities with the TV and Technology Division? Will Sony be more transparent in what they're working? Will he topple the 599 USD? Well, we'll find out as he takes the banner.

Alas, farewell! RIIIIIIIIDGE RACEEEEEEEEEEER Fan! I will miss thee!