Kaz Hirai, Sony chairman and the man who once told the world that PlayStation 3 ‘will retail for $599,’ has announced he is retiring from the format holder this summer after 35 years.
He’ll leave his role on June 18, although Sony management has requested that he acts as an occasional ‘senior adviser’ for the PlayStation manufacturer. Last year, Hirai stepped down as Sony CEO, and was replaced by Kenichiro Yoshida.
‘Since passing the baton of CEO to Yoshida-san last April, as Chairman of Sony, I have had the opportunity to both ensure a smooth transition and provide support to Sony’s management,’ said Hirai.
‘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.’
