Kazuo Hirai

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.