MUMBAI: Kazuo Hirai will become Sony president, CEO on 1 April 2012, replacing Sir Howard Stringer who will become the chairman of the board of directors.

Stringer becomes chairman of the board of directors in June 2012, thus setting in place the succession plan.

Stringer?s appointment to the board of directors in June awaits final approval during the annual shareholders meeting in June. If confirmed, he will replace retiring chairman Yotaro Kobayashi.

Hirai has acknowledged the difficulties facing the company. ?The path we must take is clear: to drive the growth of our electronics business ? primarily digital imaging, smart mobile and game (devices); to turn around the television business; and to accelerate the innovation that enables us to create new business domains?.

Stringer has been president, CEO for six years. He announced last year that he was taking a pay cut after a particularly difficult year in which Sony?s factories were damaged by the tsunami and its reputation was hit by a security breach that left more than 100 million customers? accounts compromised, forcing Sony to temporarily close its PlayStation network."