Sony Group Announces Leadership Transition and Strategic Management Restructuring for Future Growth
Tokyo, Japan – In a significant move to bolster its leadership and streamline operations, Sony Group Corporation (“Sony”) has unveiled key changes to its management structure, effective April 1, 2025. These updates reflect Sony’s commitment to fostering long-term growth, enhancing operational efficiency, and ensuring seamless succession planning.
Leadership Transition: Hiroki Totoki Appointed as CEO
Hiroki Totoki, currently serving as Director, Representative Corporate Executive Officer, President, COO, and CFO, has been appointed as Director, Representative Corporate Executive Officer, President, and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). This appointment follows a proposal by Kenichiro Yoshida, the current CEO, who will transition to the role of Director, Representative Corporate Executive Officer, and Chairman. The decision was unanimously approved by the Board of Directors after thorough deliberation by the Nominating Committee.
Yoshida expressed his confidence in Totoki’s leadership, stating, “To ensure my succession contributes to Sony’s future long-term growth, I have been in discussion with the Nominating Committee and the Board of Directors for some time. Based on Hiroki Totoki’s contributions to Sony, including his achievements since being appointed as President and COO in April 2023, I proposed that he succeed me as CEO this April.”
Totoki, who has played a pivotal role in driving Sony’s growth strategies—such as investments in content IP and semiconductors—shared his vision for the company. “I am incredibly honored and humbled to have been entrusted with the important role of President and CEO,” he said. “My predecessors, Kazuo Hirai and Kenichiro Yoshida, have greatly enhanced Sony’s value, and I will do my utmost to further build on this success.” Totoki emphasized Sony’s Creative Entertainment Vision, which aims to leverage the company’s diverse businesses and people to create new value and deliver boundless emotion (“Kando”) to customers worldwide.
Streamlined Management Structure for Enhanced Accountability
To clarify roles and responsibilities across the organization, Sony is implementing a restructured management framework. Key positions and responsibilities are now categorized into three distinct designations:
- Business CEOs: Leaders overseeing Sony’s major business units.
- Chief Officers: Executives assisting the CEO in managing the entire Group’s operations and headquarters functions.
- Corporate Executives: Individuals responsible for specific functions at the Group headquarters.
Key Appointments
- Chief Officers:
- Toshimoto Mitomo: Retains his role as Chief Strategy Officer (CSO).
- Tsuyoshi Kodera: Continues as Chief Digital Officer (CDO).
- Yasuhiro Ito: Newly appointed as Chief People Officer (CPO), focusing on human resources, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- Lin Tao: Appointed as Chief Financial Officer (CFO), bringing fresh expertise to financial strategy and oversight.
- Technology Leadership:
- Hiroaki Kitano: Named Chief Technology Fellow, underscoring Sony’s commitment to advancing innovation and technological excellence.
Business CEOs
Sony’s major business units will be led by dedicated executives, ensuring focused leadership and accountability:
- Music Business (Global): Rob Stringer, Chairman of Sony Music Group and CEO of Sony Music Entertainment.
- Music Business (Japan): Shunsuke Muramatsu, President and CEO of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc.
- Pictures Business: Ravi Ahuja, President and CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc.
- Game & Network Services Business: Hideaki Nishino, newly appointed President and CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment.
- Game Studio Business: Hermen Hulst, newly appointed CEO of the Studio Business Group within Sony Interactive Entertainment.
- Imaging & Sensing Solutions Business: Shinji Sashida, newly appointed President and CEO of Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation.
- Entertainment, Technology & Services Business: Kimio Maki, Representative Director, President, and CEO of Sony Corporation.
- Financial Services: Toshihide Endo, President and CEO of Sony Financial Group Inc.
Strengthening Governance and Succession Planning
The restructuring also includes retirements and transitions for several senior executives:
- Terushi Shimizu: Retiring as Senior Executive Vice President but continuing as Director and Chairman of Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation.
- Kazushi Ambe: Retiring as Senior Executive Vice President but remaining active as President of Sony University.
- Naomi Matsuoka: Retiring as Senior Vice President and set to join Sony Bank Inc. as Executive Vice President.
- Shiro Kambe and Hisashi Tamai: Both retiring from their current roles at the end of March 2025.
Additionally, Kazuo Kii has been appointed as Senior Vice President and Sony Group China Representative, reinforcing Sony’s focus on expanding its presence in key global markets.
A Unified Vision for Sony’s Future
Commenting on the leadership transition, Yoshihiko Hatanaka, Chair of the Board and Chair of the Nominating Committee, praised Yoshida’s tenure and highlighted Totoki’s qualifications. “As CEO, Kenichiro Yoshida has led Sony’s evolution through initiatives like the establishment of Sony’s Purpose and management strategies centered around a ‘Creation Shift.’ We are extremely grateful for his contributions. Hiroki Totoki has demonstrated exceptional leadership as CFO and COO, and the Board fully supports his appointment as CEO.”
Under Totoki’s leadership, Sony aims to continue its trajectory of innovation, creativity, and sustainable growth. By aligning its management structure with strategic priorities, the company is poised to navigate the challenges and opportunities of an ever-evolving global market.
