The business on...
Isn't that rather a grand title?
It's a new one too. Mr Hirai, who currently runs Sony's videogames business - the world of PlayStation in other words - got a bigpromotion yesterday and now looks a shoo-in for the top job at thecompany.
Who's in charge now?
That would be Sir Howard Stringer, the Welshman to whom Sonyhanded the reins five years ago. Sir Howard, now 69, isn't ready togo just yet, but does want to get a succession plan in place.Yesterday's upgrade for Mr Hirai appears to be that plan.
Tell us about him.
Well, aged 50, Mr Hirai has been at Sony his entire working life,though he started out in its music business. A couple of years back,Sir Howard singled out a quartet of Sony executives as possiblesuccessors. Mr Hirai was one of that group, whom the boss dubbed"the four musketeers".
What does he bring to the party?
Loyalty and technical knowhow. Mr Hirai spent years working forKen Kutaragai, thought of as the creator of PlayStation, and inrecent years has turned the video games business into one of Sony'sbiggest profit centres. He spotted the potential for PlayStation inan internet-connected world and has exploited that.
Still, this sounds like Sony turning inwards.
Not really. Sir Howard's tenure at Sony is always quoted as arare example of a Westerner leading a Japanese business. But MrHirai has always been an internationalist, has spent long periodsabroad and speaks English fluently. He's more than happy to make bigpublic presentations in his second language.
So when will he get the big job?
In public at least, Sir Howard won't say how long he plans tostay on Sony. He's also said Mr Hirai's new job is effectively anaudition.
What does he have to do to pass?
Sony is merging its video game and consumer electronics businessunder Mr Hirai's leadership. The latter has not performed well - theTV manufacturing business, for example, loses money - and Mr Hiraihas to turn things around.
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