Sony's Electric Vehicle 'Apilla' Launch Accelerates... President Replaced

Vice President Hiroki Dotoki Appointed as New President
Establishes Two-Top System to Accelerate Electric Vehicle Development

▲Dotoki Hiroki Vice President

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Japan's Sony Group has appointed Vice President Hiroki Dotoki as president, marking the first change in the president position in five years.

According to Nihon Keizai on the 2nd, Sony Group announced that Vice President Dotoki will be promoted to president effective April 1. After assuming the presidency, Dotoki is expected to simultaneously hold the positions of Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Chief Operating Officer (COO). The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) role will continue to be performed by current Chairman and President Kenichiro Yoshida even after stepping down from the president position.

Dotoki joined Sony in 1987 and worked in the finance sector, leading the establishment of Sony Bank. He later served as vice president of Sony's subsidiary Sonet Entertainment, which handles telecommunications business, supporting President Yoshida. After returning to Sony with President Yoshida in 2013, he has been responsible for formulating mid-term management plans and leading the smartphone business division.

He also played a leading role in establishing 'Sony Honda Mobility,' an electric vehicle joint venture co-invested by Sony and Honda. Last month, Sony attended the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) held in Las Vegas, USA, and unveiled the first electric vehicle jointly developed with Honda, the 'Afeela.' Sony plans to combine entertainment elements with electric vehicles by offering subscription services that allow customers to enjoy movies and video games inside the vehicle.

Nihon Keizai commented on this personnel change, stating, "Sony is forming a two-top system centered on Vice President Dotoki and Chairman Yoshida, accelerating the development of electric vehicles." Chairman Yoshida, who assumed the president position in 2018, has established a system linking six business areas including electronics, games, music, semiconductors, and finance during his tenure.

Sony is also achieving favorable results in its performance. In fiscal year 2021 (April 2021 to March 2022), operating profit surpassed 1 trillion yen (approximately 9.4927 trillion won) for the first time since its founding. It was the second in Japanese manufacturing after Toyota Motor Corporation.