- Kazuo Hirai
Infobox Person
name = Kazuo Hirai
image_size =
caption =
birth_date = 1964
birth_place =Tokyo ,Japan
death_date =
death_place =
occupation =President &CEO ,SCEI
spouse =nihongo|Kazuo "Kaz" Hirai|平井 一夫|Hirai Kazuo|born 1964 is the current
Chairman and GroupChief Executive Officer of Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. [cite web|url=http://www.sony.com/SCA/outline/computer.shtml|title="Sony USA - Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. Outline of Principal Operations"|publisher=sony.com |accessdate=2008-07-22] He was noted by "Entertainment Weekly " as one of the most powerful executives in theworld .cite web|url=http://www.us.playstation.com/Corporate/About/Management/kazhirai.html|title=Kaz Hirai, President and Chief Executive Officer|accessdate=2006-11-30|author=Sony Computer Entertainment America, Inc.]Early years
Hirai was born in 1964 in
Tokyo ,Japan . The son of a wealthy banker, Hirai often traveled with his father across the world toCalifornia ,New York , andCanada and around Japan — a trait which Hirai said noted to be a major factor in his later multi-continental business success.It was his interest in games that later brought him into the entertainment business. After graduating from the
International Christian University in August 1984 with aBachelor of Arts degree, Hirai was hired at the then newly-formed CBS/Sony Inc. (nowSony Music Entertainment ), where he was involved inmarketing internationalmusic within Japan. His hard work and dedication allowed him to rise through the ranks, eventually placing him once again in New York, where he became head ofSony Computer Entertainment Japan 's international business affairs office.Sony Computer Entertainment
In August 1995, Hirai joined Sony's computer and video game division, Sony Computer Entertainment America. Two years later, in 1997, Hirai was credited on his first completed video game.
PlayStation
Since heading up Sony Computer Entertainment America, Kazuo Hirai has been instrumental in Sony's success. He played a fundamental role in the rise of the
PlayStation in theUnited States , and his methods of cross-promoting of the PlayStation brand took its advertising beyond merely "game" or computer oriented fields. PlayStation advertisements were placed in mainstream sports events such as the NBA, the NFL, the NHL and evenNASCAR . This method of marketing has been credited with introducing large numbers of individuals to video games who would ordinarily have not considered purchasing a console.With the release of the
PlayStation 2 in 2000, Kazuo continued his success, utilizing second-party franchises such asJak and Daxter ,Ratchet & Clank ,Sly Cooper , and series of games. Under his leadership, SCEA continually managed to retain high profits throughout the sixth generation era.2006/2007 SCEI management shuffle
On
July 3 ,2006 , Sony Computer Entertainment announced that Hirai had been made a vice president of its corporate executive group onJuly 1 ,2006 . [cite web|url=http://www.scei.co.jp/corporate/release/pdf/060703.pdf|title=News of corporate executive affairs|accessdate=2006-11-30|date=2005-07-03 |author=Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc.|format=PDF|language=Japanese]On
November 30 ,2006 , just under two weeks after the launch ofPlayStation 3 , Hirai replacedKen Kutaragi as President of Sony Computer Entertainment. While maintaining his positions at SCEA, Hirai also becamechief operating officer of SCEI. Kutaragi himself was promoted to chairman of SCEI, and remained chief executive officer of the group. [cite web|url=http://www.scei.co.jp/corporate/release/pdf/061130e.pdf|title=SCE Announces New Management Team|accessdate=2006-11-30|date=2006-11-30 |author=Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc.|format=PDF]On
April 26 ,2007 It was announced that Hirai will be promoted to Chairman and Group CEO of SCEI, replacing Ken Kutaragi who would retire and instead take up the role of Honorary Chairman. [cite web | url = http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=24588 | title = "Kutaragi to retire from executive role at Sony" | publisher =gamesindustry.biz |date=April 26, 2007 | accessdate = 2007-04-26 ] [cite web | url = http://www.mcvuk.com/news/26780/Farewell-Mr-PlayStation | title = "Farewell Mr Playstation" | publisher =mvcuk |date=April 26, 2007 | accessdate = 2007-04-26 ] [cite web | url = http://news.com.com/8301-10784_3-9712823-7.html | title = PlayStation creator Kutaragi resigns | publisher = CNET News.com | date=April 26, 2007 | accessdate = 2007-07-23 ] [cite web | url = http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=24620 | title = Farewell, Father | publisher = GamesIndustry.biz | date=April 27, 2007 | accessdate = 2007-07-23 ]Notes
External links
* [http://www.us.playstation.com/Corporate/About/Management/kazhirai.html Official profile]
*moby developer|id=54407|name=Kaz Hirai's profile;Interviews
* [http://games.kikizo.com/features/ps3_kazhirai_vidiv_oct06.asp Kikizo video interview]
* [http://www.gamespot.com/video/0/6160222/videoplayerpop? Gamespot video interview - Playstation 3 pre launch]
* [http://www.gamespot.com/video/0/6158491/videoplayerpop? Gamespot video interview - TGS 2006]
* [http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3141808 1UP.com interview]
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