Arab News Japan

TOKYO: Nobuyuki Idei, the former chief executive of Sony Group Corp, who led the Japanese conglomerate for a decade, died of liver failure on June 2, aged 84, the company said on Tuesday.

According to a statement by Sony, a private funeral was held and attended by close family members. “A company memorial service is planned to be held at a later date,” the statement added.

Idei took the helm in 1995 to drive Sony’s shift into content from hardware, but under his leadership the company behind the Walkman missed the shift to MP3s and flat-panel TVs.

In 1960, the late former CEO played a key role in turning the electronics company into a tech giant. He was appointed president and representative director in 1995 and became CEO in 1998. He served as chairman and CEO from 2000 to 2005.

Idei was known for encouraging engineers to take advantage of new technologies and developed the concept “Digital Dream Kids,” which aimed to accelerate the company’s global expansion through the creation of next-generation entertainment products.

As a result, Sony ceded its lead in the portable music industry it had created to Apple, with the company also outmanoeuvered by domestic rivals and Korean companies in televisions.

Idei stepped down to take responsibility for slumping earnings and was replaced by Britain-born Howard Stringer, who became the first foreigner to lead the company.

After his departure Idei continued to play a role in corporate Japan as an adviser and director on company boards. He founded a management consultancy firm named Quantum Leaps Corp. in 2006 to support venture companies and focused on fostering entrepreneurs in Japan.

*With Reuters