Sony Corporation today announced that it plans to split out and establish its semiconductor business as a wholly owned subsidiary in April 2016. The company is also exploring to split its Imaging Products and Solutions Sector. In addition to Game & Network Services, Mobile Communications, Pictures, Music, Sony split out its TV business in July 2014 , followed by its Video & Sound business in October 2015.
As the company already announced, operations that resided within Sony Corporation, including the Consumer AV Sales Platform, the Manufacturing, Logistics, Procurement, Quality and Environmental Platform for Sony’s electronics business, as well as certain cloud-based platforms and service-related businesses, will each be transferred to the related Sony Group companies.
The company has also made changes to executive assignments and system that will be effective from April. The company will appoint four executives, currently in charge of four of the Sony Group’s business segments, as “Corporate Executive Officers” of Sony Corporation. “They, together with the six existing Corporate Executive Officers, will assume ultimate responsibility for the Sony Group’s management within the scope assigned to them by the Company’s Board of Directors,” said the company.
Once the splitting out of these functions has been completed, Sony Corporation will focus on the following Group headquarters functions:
- Headquarters: Responsibility for the Sony Group’s overall strategy and governance, and oversight of their execution
- R&D: Leadership of Sony’s differentiation and creativity through technological innovation
- New Business: Incubation of new businesses in areas beyond Sony’s current business domains
- Brand Design: To enhance Sony’s brand value and implement horizontal Group-wide initiatives
- Professional Services: To support the operations of the Sony Group following the completion of the splitting out process