(via Reuters)

TOKYO, Sept 25 - Japan’s Sony Corp. said on Monday its Executive Deputy President Katsumi Ihara will oversee its overall consumer products business from Oct. 1, expanding his current role of managing TV and video operations.

Ihara helped turn Sony’s mobile phone joint venture with Ericsson profitable as the venture’s first president and later launched the Bravia brand liquid crystal display TV, which grabbed the top spot in the LCD TV market away from Sharp Corp.

His new fields of responsibility include VAIO personal computers, Cyber-shot digital cameras and Walkman portable music players, as well as TV and video operations.

The move comes at a time when Sony, the world’s second-largest consumer electronics maker, which is in the early stages of an earnings recovery, heads into the critical year-end shopping season.

Sony also said Executive Vice President Yutaka Nakagawa will oversee Sony’s microchip and electronic components businesses.

Nakagawa, currently in charge of digital cameras, camcorders and audio products, will be promoted to executive deputy president as of Oct. 1.

Both Ihara and Nakagawa will report to Ryoji Chubachi, head of Sony’s electronics operations.
Shares of Sony closed down 0.8 percent at 4,730 yen on Monday, underperforming the Tokyo stock market’s electrical machinery index, which was virtually unchanged.