Former Sony Head Admits Ignoring Management Orders for PlayStation

Former Sony President Kaz Hirai revealed that while leading the gaming division, he often ignored instructions from the corporate headquarters in Tokyo.

In an interview with Japanese media, former PlayStation head and ex-Sony President Kaz Hirai recalled how he and his team forged their own path when Sony's management tried to impose their ideas on them. According to Hirai, PlayStation had to determine its own direction of development.

Everything changed in 2012 when Hirai took over Sony during one of the most challenging periods in its history. The company was suffering losses, and the actions of the new president were being watched by over 160,000 employees and shareholders.

To gain the trust of employees, Hirai personally visited facilities instead of merely issuing orders from his office. In six years as president, he visited more than 20 countries and nearly 50 cities, repeatedly returning to factories.

The concept of 'Kando' – creating products that evoke deep emotions – formed the basis of Sony's recovery strategy. Initially, employees considered it just another corporate slogan, but Hirai's persistence helped make this idea the foundation of device development.