Sony Appoints Hiroki Totoki as CEO to Lead Entertainment and Games

Sony Group Corp. is appointing Hiroki Totoki as CEO, backing the veteran finance chief's push to build up the company's entertainment footprint. With outgoing CEO Kenichiro Yoshida, Totoki has been instrumental in guiding the Tokyo-based technology leader toward a future that focuses on innovation in its entertainment business. The company last year explored potential acquisitions, including Paramount Global and Japanese publisher Kadokawa Corp.

Sony's emphasis on content-from PlayStation games and anime to music and movies-is driving revenue and profit growth. Operating profit jumped 76% in the September quarter even as demand for smartphone components and image sensors, used in Apple Inc. and Xiaomi Corp.

Sony announced on Wednesday that Yoshida will remain as chairman of the board. Hideaki Nishino will be the head of the company's main game and network services division, and Hermen Hulst will be named CEO of the game studio business. These new roles, to be effective on April 1, are part of a new management structure Sony is instituting to ensure the long-term growth of the company.

“I am incredibly honored and humbled to have been entrusted with the important role of President and CEO. At the same time, I am looking forward to working as CEO with our approximately 110,000 employees to further evolve and grow Sony,” Totoki, 60, said in the statement.

Totoki had been increasingly assuming leadership responsibilities at Tokyo-based Sony two years ago, when he added president and chief operating officer to his role as chief financial officer. He delivers Sony's commentary during quarterly earnings calls and has guided the company through challenging periods, including extended supply shortages of its flagship PlayStation 5 console.

Recent earnings show that a couple of big-name titles, including the Chinese video game hit Black Myth: Wukong, boost Sony's PlayStation business. During the year, the company has eagerly looked forward to major releases such as Monster Hunter Wilds from Capcom Co. and Grand Theft Auto 6 from Rockstar Games Inc.