Sony Europe announces new top management structure to further strengthen European operations in the broadband era

BERLIN, March 28 (PROTEXT) - Sony Europe has today announceda new top management structure for its European electronicsoperations headquartered in Berlin.

Effective April 1st, 2002, Michiaki (Mike) Tsurumi, currentlyCorporate Senior Vice President of Sony Corporation, will beappointed President, Sony Europe. Otto Zich, currently Chairmanand Chief Executive Officer, will assume the newly createdpositions of Chairman of the Sony Group European Top ManagementCommittee and Chairman of the Global Entertainment ManufacturingCommittee. Jean-Michel Perbet, currently President and ChiefOperating Officer, will become Executive Vice President, SonyEurope and President, AV/IT (Audio, Video and InformationTechnology) Sales Operations.

Commenting on today's announcement, Kunitake Ando, Presidentand Chief Operating Officer of Sony Corporation, said, "The newtop management structure is designed to enhance synergies betweenSony group companies in Europe as well as strengthen the AV/ITbusiness, which is at the core of Sony's European electronicsoperations. Our aim is to create an European business model thatbuilds on the successful foundation established by Otto Zich andJean-Michel Perbet and that is well adapted to the needs ofthe 21st century broadband era."

Ando added, "Mike Tsurumi's vast knowledge of the electronicsbusiness, particularly in the areas of broadcast andtelecommunications, coupled with his global management experienceand understanding of the European market will greatly contributeto further growth in Sony's electronics business in Europe. I amconfident that Mike, Jean-Michel and the rest of the managementteam are committed and dedicated to drive our European businessforward."

Since joining Sony Corporation in 1964, Mr. Tsurumi has helda number of management positions at Sony in the United States,Canada and the United Kingdom, as well as Japan. His lastappointment in Europe was in 1995 as Managing Director of SonyBroadcast and Professional Europe, in the United Kingdom. Mr.Tsurumi returned to Sony Corporation in 1998 to assume therole of Executive Vice President of Sony's Broadcasting andProfessional Systems Company. In April 2000 he was appointedPresident of Sony Broadcast Media and since April 2001 he alsooversees Sony Corporation's broadcast and telecommunicationsservices businesses.

About Sony

Sony manufactures audio, video, communications andinformation technology products for the global consumer andprofessional markets. With its music, pictures, game and onlinebusinesses, Sony is uniquely positioned to become a leadingpersonal broadband entertainment company in the 21stcentury. In Europe Sony recorded consolidated annual sales of EUR14.90 billion (yen 1,473,780 million) for the fiscal year endedMarch 31, 2001, based on an average market exchange rate for thesame period of yen 98.9 to the EUR. Sony Europe, headquartered atthe Sony Center am Potsdamer Platz in Berlin, is responsible forthe company's European electronics business and registeredconsolidated sales of EUR 10.37 billion for the fiscal year endedMarch 31, 2001. For more information on Sony Europe,please visit http://www.sony-europe.com

Aldo Liguori Corporate Communications Europe Sony EuropeGmbH tel: +49 30 2575 5159 fax: +49 30 2575 5174, email:Aldo.Liguori@eu.sony.com; www.sony-europe.com/presscenter

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