Our new fiscal year began on April 1.

In addition to my previous communications to all of you by email and other channels, I would like to take this opportunity to introduce Sony Group's new management structure effective April 1st.

First, most recently, I announced the formation of Electronics Products & Solutions (EP&S). This aligned our Imaging Products & Solutions (IP&S), Home Entertainment & Sound (HE&S), and the Mobile Communications (MC) Businesses under the Electronics Products & Solutions (EP&S) Business. Shigeki Ishizuka will oversee the EP&S Business as the Officer in charge, and Ichiro Takagi will assist as Deputy Officer.

(From left) Ishizuka-san and Takagi-san

Ishizuka-san and Takagi-san have made tremendous contributions to turning around of our electronics businesses to date; and I have asked the two to further generate new values by promoting closer collaboration among each of our businesses in the electronics domain, cultivate the next generation of talents, and optimize the organization and talent allocation in terms of EP&S Business as a whole.

At Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) (SMEJ), Shunsuke Muramatsu, who oversaw its Music & Artist Business Group and New Music Businesses, has been appointed President and COO. Together with Michinori Mizuno, now Chairman and CEO, he will manage the SMEJ's diverse business portfolio, which include anime and mobile game businesses, in addition to its music label business.

Muramatsu-san	Mizuno-san

And in the rapidly changing Games & Network Services domain, I have appointed Jim Ryan as President and CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE). Jim has many years of experience in the PlayStation® business, and I have asked him to take the helm of the overall management of SIE, to leverage his extensive knowledge of the industry and deep understanding of the PlayStation® culture and strengths as various players enter the game industry. Together with John Kodera and his wealth of expertise in enriching the user experiences in the network domain, I have high expectations for the two of them to evolve the PlayStation® business and its network services.

Jim	John

We also welcomed Jon Platt as Chairman and CEO of Sony/ATV Music Publishing. Last autumn, Sony made EMI Music Publishing a wholly owned subsidiary, which was our second largest strategic investment after the 1989 acquisition of Columbia Pictures. Together with Sony/ATV, Sony is now the world's largest music publisher. Together with Sony Music Entertainment's music label business, I look forward to Jon's contributions to getting closer to artists, and building our success in the music market which has now entered a growth phase with the rise of streaming services.

Jon

With the addition of some new members to our executive management team, I look forward to working together with all of you to drive Sony towards continued growth as a "Creative Entertainment Company underpinned by Technology."

■　Onboarding Ceremony for New Employees

In Japan, April marks the start of the new schoolyear and many companies begin their new fiscal year, so new hires customarily onboard as a group during this season. Sony also holds an "onboarding ceremony" every year for our new employees joining the Sony Group companies in Japan on April 1.

I have given speeches at this ceremony since my tenure as CFO, and took the stage once again this year with Hirai-san. I spoke of Sony's history and our direction for the future, and shared my expectations to the attending new hires. I asked them to embrace our newly defined Sony's Purpose & Values, to build connections with their peers who will join various Sony Group companies by harnessing Sony's diversity. Hirai-san also shared his expectations that they push the boundaries to build a career for themselves as he did, leveraging the breadth of Sony's diverse business portfolio. In the afternoon session, Totoki-san, Katsumoto-san, and SMEJ's Ishikawa-san held an interactive Q&A session where they fielded questions from the new employees.

(From left) Totoki-san, Katsumoto-san, Ishikawa-san	Hirai-san

Throughout the year, many talents join the Sony Group across the globe, choosing Sony as a place for their new challenges. I would like to work together with everyone at Sony around world, and continue to endeavor to get closer to our users and creators and generate new values this fiscal year and in the future. Let's "fill the world with emotion, through the power of creativity and technology."