Foreigner picked to lead Sony

TOKYO - Sony's board has named the British-born head of its US operations, Sir Howard Stringer, as chairman and chief executive.

Analysts said the appointment of a foreigner to the top post was a rare move for a major Japanese company.

Sony's board met yesterday to approve Stringer's appointment.

Present chief executive Nobuyuki Idei is to step down to take responsibility for the firm's slumping earnings after five rocky years at the helm.

Sony president Kunitake Ando has also lost his job in the management reshuffle.

He will be replaced by Ryoji Chubachi, an executive deputy president in charge of electronics parts and production operations.

The electronics conglomerate announced the proposed management changes with a view to them becoming official after a general shareholders' meeting in June.

Stringer, a Welshman, is now head of Sony Corp of America and vice-chairman in charge of the company's entertainment business division.

He had a 30-year career as a journalist, producer and executive at Viacom's CBS television network before joining Sony in 1997.

Known for his skills as a deal-maker in the entertainment industry, Stringer, 63, oversaw the acquisition of Hollywood film studio Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer by a Sony-led group last year.

He became a US citizen in 1985.

- REUTERS