Sony: Phil Harrison Replaced by Hirai Ally

Englishman and Marillion fan Phil Harrison resigned as head of Sony World Wide Studios in February this year to take up a new role at Infogrames/Atari. Since then we've been waiting to hear about his replacement.

Now we know... it's Shuhei Yoshida, who moves to Japan from his previous role at Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) as Senior Vice President of Product Development. He becomes president of SCE WWS, effective May 16, 2008.

According to his SCEA biog, he is, "a 19-year Sony veteran and renowned software developer, has been with Sony Computer Entertainment America since it’s inception more than twelve years ago. Previous to this, Yoshida’s tenure with Sony Computer Entertainment Inc (SCEI) took him through various high profile positions in product development and third party relations."

During this time at SCEA the president and CEO he worked under was Kaz Hirai. Hirai is now, of course, President and group chief operating officer, Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc (phew). So, the two colleague are now reunited.

SPOnG also goes some way back with Shuhei Yoshida, noting "Shuhei Yoshida's first video game work that SPOnG is aware of is the 1998 title, "Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped" (PlayStation) as Project Leader/Producer", among points.

So, both Japanese senior managers at SCEA have now returned to their homelands leaving the US operation to work entirely with domestic staff for the first time in its history.