Kaz hirai biography
Kaz Hirai facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kaz Hirai | |
|---|---|
Hirai at the Mobile World Congress 2013 in Barcelona | |
| Born | (1960-12-22) December 22, 1960 (age 64) Tokyo, Japan |
| Alma mater | International Christian University |
Kazuo "Kaz" Hirai(平井 一夫, Hirai Kazuo, born December 22, 1960) is a Japanese businessman. He is best known as the former chairman of Sony Corporation, serving from April 2018 to June 2019, as well as president and CEO from April 2012 to April 2018. He also served as a board member of Sony Computer Entertainment and chairman and co-CEO of Sony Entertainment. He was noted by Entertainment Weekly as one of the most powerful executives in the entertainment industry. He led the Sony Computer Entertainment division between 2007 and 2012, and then became president and CEO of Sony in April 2012. Through his tenure as CEO, Sony experienced a resurgence during the 2010s. In 2018, Hirai stepped down as president and CEO, becoming chairman of Sony Corporation. He fully retired from Sony in June 2019, and retired from his role as a senior adviser to the company in June 2024.
Early life
Kazuo Hirai was born on December 22, 1960, in Tokyo, where he attended the American School in Japan. Between 1973 and 1976, Hirai attended Valley Park Middle School in Toronto, Canada. The son of a wealthy banker, Hirai often traveled with his father across the world to California, New York, Canada and around Japan—a trait which Hirai noted to be a major factor in his later multi-continental business success.
It was his interest in games that later brought him into the entertainment business. After graduating from the International Christian University in August 1984 with a Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree, Hirai was hired at CBS/Sony Inc. (now Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc.), where he was involved in marketing international music within Japan. He eventually became head of Sony Computer Entertainment Japan's international business affairs offic
Kaz Hirai
aka: Kazuo Hirai
Moby ID: 54407
Biography edit · view history
Kazuo (Kaz) Hirai is President and Group COO of SCEI since 1st December 2006, having replaced Ken Kutaragi.
Prior to that, he was President and CEO of SCEA. 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 PlayStation 2. 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.
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.
Credited on 242 games
Displaying most recent · View all
| Gran Turismo 7(2022, PlayStation 5) | Special Thanks |
| LocoRoco: Remastered(2017, PlayStation 4) | We would like to thank |
| MLB The Show 16(2016, PlayStation 4) | Thanks – Sony Computer Entertainment America Management Team |
| Guns Up!(2015, PlayStation 4) | Thanks |
| MLB 15: The Show(2015, PlayStation 4) | Thanks – Sony Computer Entertainment America Management Team |
| MLB 14: The Show(2014, PlayStation 4) | Thanks – Sony Computer Entertainment America Management Team |
| inFAMOUS: Second Son(2014, PlayStation 4) | We would like to thank |
| Doki-Doki Universe(2013, PlayStation 4) | We would like to thank |
| Gran Turismo 6(2013, PlayStation 3) | Executive Producer |
Ratchet & Clank: Into the Nexus Kaz HiraiJapanese businessman (born 1960) Kazuo "Kaz" Hirai (平井 一夫, Hirai Kazuo, born December 22, 1960) is a Japanese businessman. He is best known as the former chairman of Sony Corporation, serving from April 2018 to June 2019, as well as president and CEO from April 2012 to April 2018. He also served as a board member of Sony Computer Entertainment and chairman and co-CEO of Sony Entertainment. He was noted by Entertainment Weekly as one of the most powerful executives in the entertainment industry. He led the Sony Computer Entertainment division between 2007 and 2012, and then became president and CEO of Sony in April 2012. Through his tenure as CEO, Sony experienced a resurgence during the 2010s. In 2018, Hirai stepped down as president and CEO, becoming chairman of Sony Corporation. He fully retired from Sony in June 2019, and retired from his role as a senior adviser to the company in June 2024. Early lifeKazuo Hirai was born on December 22, 1960, in Tokyo, where he attended the American School in Japan. Between 1973 and 1976, Hirai attended Valley Park Middle School in Toronto, Canada. The son of a wealthy banker, Hirai often traveled with his father across the world to California, New York, Canada and around Japan—a trait which Hirai noted to be a major factor in his later multi-continental business success. It was his interest in games that later brought him into the entertainment business. After graduating from the International Christian University in August 1984 with a Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree, Hirai was hired at CBS/Sony Inc. (now Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc.), where he was involved in marketing international music within Japan. He eventually became head of Sony Computer Entertainment Japan's international business affairs office in New York. CareerCBS/Sony Inc.Kazuo Hirai began his career with Son Kazuo Hirai began his career with CBS/Sony Inc. (Now Sony Music Entertainment (Japan)) in 1984. In 1995 he joined Sony Computer Entertainment America (Now Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC) with responsibility for the PlayStation business in North America. From 2007, he served as President and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (Now Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.) extending his responsibilities to the PlayStation business worldwide. In April 2012, he was appointed Representative Corporate Executive Officer, President and CEO, Sony Corporation (Now Sony Group Corporation), and led the entire Sony business for 6 years as its Chief Executive. From April 2018 until June 2019, he held the position of Chairman, and then, in June 2019 until June 2024, he became Senior Advisor, Sony Group Corporation. Established a general incorporated foundation Project KIBO in April 2021. |