Kazuo Hirai
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Kazuo Hirai
Title: Sony Corp.’s corporate executive officer will become its president and chief executive officer April 1.
Age: 51
Education: bachelor of liberal arts, International Christian University in Tokyo, 1984
First job at Sony: junior music marketing executive at CBS/Sony Inc., now called Sony Music Entertainment Japan
PlayStation years: joined Sony’s computer and video game division in 1995; promoted as president of the group’s North American business in 1999
Achievements: Hirai helped build the PlayStation into a multibillion-dollar global enterprise. The division is often viewed as a model for how the company can successfully mesh entertainment with technology.
Hobbies: Cycling, photography
Family: The son of a banker who traveled extensively with his family, Hirai learned to speak English at a young age. He is married and lives in Tokyo.
Source: Los Angeles Times research, Sony Corp.
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