Sony chairman Sir Howard Stringer is to retire, he has announced, citing “new opportunities”.
Stringer made the surprise announcement in a speech to the Japan Society in New York on Friday, revealing he will step down at the end of his current term as chairman.
It is expected his resignation will become official from Sony’s annual shareholders’ meeting, set to take place in June.
“A new world is opening up for me, one that allows me to complete my plan to retire from Sony, which I expect to do at the conclusion of my term later this year. That will allow me to move forward with new opportunities I’ve been presented with lately,” said the chairman.
As yet no further details of the “new opportunities” have been released.
Stringer has enjoyed a 15-year career at Sony, having served seven years as chief executive officer (CEO) of the company until last year, when he handed over the reins to Kazuo Hirai.
The 71-year-old outgoing chairman has been subjected to substantial criticism throughout his stint at Sony, as the company has floundered faced with the increasing pressure placed on it by market rivals, reporting significant losses for the past four years and hitting an all-time low in 2012.
