Sony Mobile Communications has announced some new management changes this morning. The biggest news is that former President and CEO Bert Nordberg will step down from running the company. Kunimasa (Kuni) Suzuki will take over as new Sony Mobile President and CEO effective from 16 May 2012. Nordberg will move to become the Chairman of the Sony Mobile Board.
The move is not entirely surprising, we reported last week that Suzuki was handed responsibility for the entire mobile division (smartphones, tablets and PCs). His brief is to “integrate and enhance the user experience across Sony’s entire product and network service line-up”. He will also be in charge of the User Experience (“UX”) & Product Strategy and Creative Platform.
Sony President & CEO Kazuo Hirai had this to say about Kuni: “He is a strong leader and the right person to oversee Sony Mobile Communications as we establish a new business structure as ?One Sony’ intended to reinforce and accelerate our overall business management.”
Hirai also had some kind words for Nordberg: “Bert Nordberg has done an outstanding job in transforming Sony Ericsson, now Sony Mobile Communications, from a feature phone to a smartphone company. I have enjoyed working with Bert and I would like to thank him for his vital contributions over the years, and I am glad that he will become the Board’s chairman to support Kuni and the management team of Sony Mobile Communications during these critical phases of the company’s integration with the wider Sony Group.”
Bert Nordberg seemed to take the move on the chin, this is what he had to say: “During my years with Sony Ericsson and now Sony Mobile Communications, I’ve seen the mobile industry change at a rapid pace. We’ve shifted the company from feature phones to a smartphone company, and established Xperia™ as the Sony smartphone with consumers and operators around the world. Sony is a content, electronics and entertainment powerhouse and it has been a pleasure being part of the Sony team during both the joint venture and through the transition of becoming Sony Mobile Communications.”
