Sony have announced today that Andrew House, Chief Marketing Officer and Group Executive of Sony Corporation, will be the next President and CEO of SCEE. House has played a big role in the current success of the Playstation brand, so please join us in offering our congratulations and excitement for his new role at Sony Computer Entertainment Europe! Again, click through for the full press release…
Tokyo, April 15, 2009 – Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) announced today that Andrew House, Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) and Group Executive of Sony Corporation, has been named President, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Co-Chief Operating Officer (Co-COO) of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) as of May 1, 2009.
In his new role, House will be responsible for managing the PlayStation business across nearly 100 countries in the Europe/PAL territories, including the company’s PlayStation®2, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) and PLAYSTATION®3 platforms as well as PlayStation®Network.
House joined Sony Corporation in 1990, where he worked in corporate communications for Sony Corporation (Japan) for five years. In April 1995, he was assigned to the marketing and communications division of SCEI, contributing to the marketing and promotion of the original PlayStation® computer entertainment system as well as its game titles. In March 1996, House was promoted to Vice President, Marketing of Sony Computer Entertainment America, where he led SCEA’s marketing efforts to establish the North American market for the original PlayStation as well as formulating and executing the market strategies which led to the successful launch of the PlayStation 2 and PSP businesses. House was also instrumental in developing the PlayStation brand into a household name in North America. In addition to his marketing responsibilities, he also led the Third Party Relations and Developer Support divisions from 2000, making sizeable contributions in establishing and maintaining firm relationships with third party game developers and publishers in North America as well as growing content alliances.
Acknowledged for his invaluable contribution to the expansion of the PlayStation business and to the company’s marketing and brand management efforts, House was appointed CMO of Sony Corporation in 2005, with global responsibility for corporate marketing across all of Sony’s businesses with primary emphasis in building value in the Sony brand.
“I’m very happy to welcome Andrew back to the PlayStation business and to work closely with him again” said Kazuo Hirai, President and Group CEO, Sony Computer Entertainment. “I’m confident that the skills and expertise Andy has gained over the years working as Sony’s CMO will contribute enormously in leading the PlayStation business in Europe/PAL countries and regions and to bring new initiatives in managing the business in the coming networked era.”
“I’m delighted to return to the PlayStation fold and excited to take on this new challenge,” said Andrew House, “I have strong ties to the interactive entertainment industry and I believe there is huge potential for further growth of our business in the Europe/PAL countries and regions, particularly in the area of networked entertainment. I’m looking forward to working with everyone at SCEE and with other groups in Sony to help achieve this potential.”
“This is the end……my only friend the end….”
Seems its not just TS thats having a radical announcement/change!
Comment by JohnSketch — Apr 15, 2009 @ 10:41 am
Hopefully with Mr House’s background in marketing this *will* be the year of the PlayStation 3.
Exciting times ahead…
BFN,
fp.
Comment by fanpages — Apr 15, 2009 @ 11:15 am
@JS
I thought I heard you singing that last night.
Are you Jim Morrison in disguise?
Comment by mrsatansdojo — Apr 15, 2009 @ 11:17 am
One last big story for ThreeSpeech to break before they go!
So it’s all change at the top for SCEE, maybe Sony have finally realised that they’ve been screwing it up in Europe!
No offence to Dave Reeves, I didn’t know him that well aside from the odd Press Conference appearance, but maybe some new blood will bring a new sense of optimism in the world weary and sceptical SCEE market!
Having a marketing background is interesting, I would hope that means he has a keen sense of what the EU market want to change about how SCEE do things. It’s also interesting that a semi-official blog outsourced to a 3rd party marketing company is being closed down and brought in-house at the same time; coincidence?
Things to note from the release:
Kaz Hirai likes him and wants to work closely with him
He has a background in marketing (which let’s face it is dire from SCEE)
He has strong ties to the interactive entertainment industry
He wants to improve SCEE’s networked entertainment (ie PSN Games & Movies)
Comment by Apnomis — Apr 15, 2009 @ 11:39 am
Some interesting comments, courtesy of TechRadar:
CVG Editor Gavin Ogden:
“Reeves has been instrumental in building the PlayStation brand into the force it remains today, And after seeing in three console launches across nearly one hundred PAL territories, you can understand his decision to call it a day. Incoming new president, Andrew House, will now be charged with pushing PS3 sales through the roof in an industry that continues to grow and defy trends seen in other areas of the entertainment business.”
PSM3 magazine Editor Daniel Dawkins:
“David Reeves has presided over, through largely no fault of his own, a tumultuous period in Playstation history, and done a reasonable job of handling a series of tricky situations; from questions over PS3’s pricing, to Sony’s perceived lack of exclusives.
Given that he’s not responsible for global policy, more managing its implementation, I don’t think there’s any need to knee-jerk react to his departure. The story is simply man leaves, another man replaces him.
Ken Kutaragi’s ‘retirement’ was far more significant, as he was responsible for Playstation’s overall direction and technical direction. Given his hands-on remit for software development, Phil Harrison’s departure was also significant. For the average gamer, and to the Playstation brand, this means little.”
SPOnG.com Editor Tim Smith:
“The interesting thing here is not so much that David has retired, but who has replaced him. This appears to be a parachute in from Sony Corporation, From Kaz’s comments it would appear that House is - if not an ally - at least somebody who has worked with him and who is comfortable to do so again. So, this looks a lot like SCEE and its marketing is being drawn more closely under a centralised management. Not surprising seeing how important SCEE is to the PlayStation brand.”"
Comment by Apnomis — Apr 15, 2009 @ 12:11 pm
So was Andrew instrumental in coming up with concept for HOME?? I know, I know all my own material…I’m here until the 17th, tickets at the door.
Comment by CartBlanche — Apr 15, 2009 @ 12:26 pm
Bingo! Somebody made the first comment, and you didn’t disappoint, Cart.
Comment by fanpages — Apr 15, 2009 @ 12:51 pm
good luk , psn cards europe ,belgium?
Comment by monoliet — Apr 15, 2009 @ 6:24 pm
At last they are acknowledging that SCEE was rapidly making the PS3 a reviled console and are trying to sort it out.
I fear this is closing the barn door after the horse has bolted though.
If Sony/SCEE had listened to it’s loyal and long suffering fanbase from the start they wouldn’t have to be trying to glue the shattered community back together again.
Let’s hope House gets his house in order and tackles the ludicrous pricing policy SCEE have adopted and that he also realises that he shouldn’t be charging for items in a (Home) beta.
Let’s make this House a Home.
Comment by Ton Capone — Apr 15, 2009 @ 8:37 pm
i want PHIL back,
he made the promiss that the EU Is the biggest and most important region for SoNY.
so start giving us the credits.
mr house,
1)where are the PSN Cards for the EU
2) why the Netherlands are not allowed to by PLAYTV.
3) give us the correct pricing scheme for digital distributed entertainment
no longer items can cost .49$ and .99€
either 1$ for 1€ or the correct 1.33 $ = 1€
4rd,while we’r at it.
put in some Eurodance of the 90’s in Singstore instead of al those hippy indicrap.
1 song of 2 unlimited is not even close to enough
and then 5 to close things off.
release the movies through the store,stop waisting time
Comment by t3rr0rt!m3 — Apr 15, 2009 @ 9:51 pm
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