Kazuo Hirai
President & CEO of
Sony Computer Entertainment America
Kazuo (Kaz) Hirai brings 20 years of experience with Sony to his position as president and chief executive officer, Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. In this role, Hirai is responsible for the day-to-day management of the company's operations, including licensing, third party relations, business development, strategic planning, first party product development, marketing, sales, and network business group. A recognized leader in the interactive entertainment industry, Hirai played a pivotal role in elevating the videogame industry to an important entertainment category that now tops Hollywood box office movie revenues.
Hirai presides over Sony Computer Entertainment America, PlayStation's largest market, North America. As the eight most powerful executive in the entertainment business, as ranked by Entertainment Weekly, Hirai is elevating the standards in interactive entertainment and making the PlayStation brand synonymous with exceptional entertainment.
During his tenure at Sony Computer Entertainment America, Hirai was actively involved in the launch of the original PlayStation, as well as the 2000 launch of the groundbreaking PlayStation 2 - both of which continue to dominate the industry as the best-selling platforms. In August 2002, Hirai again led the company into new frontiers with the introduction of the Network Adaptor, the company's foray into online gaming. In just under two years, Sony Computer Entertainment America has achieved its lifecycle goal of bringing more than 10 percent of the PlayStation 2 installed base online, with more than 2.6 million connected consoles to date.
In addition to his current role, Hirai continues to serve as a board member of Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. and as one of the corporate executives of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. He was most recently promoted to the CEO post in July 2003 by Ken Kutaragi, one of the company's founding members.
Hirai joined Sony Computer Entertainment America in August 1995, with responsibility for the operational management of the company under the former president. Before that, Hirai worked in Sony Music Japan's New York office coordinating the marketing of Sony Music Japan artists in the U.S. Hirai began his career with CBS/Sony Inc. (now Sony Music Entertainment Japan) in April 1984 where he was instrumental in the marketing coordination of international music in Japan and later headed the international business affairs department.
Hirai received his bachelor of liberal arts degree from the International Christian University in Tokyo.