TOKYO- Sony promoted John Kodera as the new head of
PlayStation, the electronic giant’s most important division and largest growth
driver.
Kodera, who has primarily
worked on online service PlayStation Network, will take over as chief executive
officer at subsidiary Sony Interactive
Entertainment, replacing
Andrew "Andy" House who ran the unit since 2011. House will remain as
chairman through the end of the year and then pursue what he called "new
challenges" outside of Sony without elaborating in detail.
The appointment comes at a
critical time for Sony. Shares are trading close to a nine-year high on
expectations games will continue to boost growth, but with the PlayStation 4
console heading toward the end of its lifecycle analysts are starting to
question what comes next. Kodera’s efforts to add non-gaming content to the
PlayStation Network show that Sony’s chief Kazuo Hirai sees the addition of TV
shows, movies and music as one way to ease the earnings volatility between
console lifecycles.
“John Kodera has led Sony’s
network service business since 2013 and played a pivotal role in its growth,”
Hirai said in a statement. “With the significance of network services
increasing across the entire Sony Group, I believe that John is ideally
equipped to build on the foundations Andy has left in place.”
Games made up 21% of
Sony’s total revenue last fiscal year and 36% of its operating income.
During the period, PlayStation Network for the first time generated the
majority of the games division’s revenue, as online subscriptions and digital
downloads outweighed hardware sales.
Sony playstation preview at E3 2017 in Los Angeles Kodera, 47, has worked on
the PlayStation Network since 2010, launching TV service Vue, game-streaming
platform Now, and a partnership with Spotify Ltd. to bring more non-gaming
content to the network’s 70 million users. Prior to that, he worked in the
company’s audio and PC businesses. He joined Sony in 1992.
"I intend to build on
the amazing progress Andy has made enhancing the PlayStation brand and
expanding the game and network services business, and will strive to further
strengthen the unique value proposition we are able to offer via the
PlayStation platform,” said Kodera.
WATCH:
Under House, 52, Sony
regained its lead in the gaming industry, with the PS4 outselling Microsoft
Corp.’s Xbox One by more than three to one. He has also worked on bringing
virtual reality to the masses, with the PlayStation VR now the industry-leading
high-end headset after selling more than a million units since launching a year
ago
"PlayStation has been a
huge part of my life for more than 20 years but with the business having
achieved record-breaking success, now seemed to be the right time for me to
pursue new challenges,” said House