Kaz Hirai steps down as Sony chairman

Older board members step down, new members appointed.

Sony Computer Entertainment president and CEO Kazuo Hirai will retire as Representative Director and Chairman, the company has announced. He will remain as a part-time member of the board of directors.

Sony CEO Howard Stringer, a part-time member of the board, and deputy president Kunimasa Suzuki, have also stepped down from the board.

New board members appointed include EVP and CPO Kauzo Miura, Sony Computer Entertainment Japan president Hiroshi Kawano, and EVP Atsushi Morita.

The news comes following a 94.3 billion yen deficit (approx. $1.2 billion USD) for the company’s 2011 fiscal year.

Thanks, Inside.